conversations
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[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The kingdom of Tasmeria was a center of finance and culture. In a corner of its great capital, one could find the academy. Most people, upon first seeing the academy, thought it too grand for the word. That was because it functioned as a gathering place for noble sons and daughters from across the kingdom. Here, they devoted themselves to studying and forging connections day and night. On the large campus were the academy proper, the field, the training area, and the dormitories.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning, Prince Edward, Ms. Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris’s younger brother, Berne, exited the dormitory and within moments ran into the second prince of the kingdom, Prince Edward, and his fiancée, Yuri. Male and female students occupied separate dorms, and the academy rules governing their interactions were strict, allowing no exceptions—not even for engaged couples. However, the prince and Yuri were nearly entwined as they walked from the dormitories to the instruction hall.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good morning, Lord Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Prince Edward’s hair was a bright red, like his mother Ellia, the second queen, and his irises were jet-black. His sharp eyes gave him a hard air—save for when he was with Yuri, and the edges rounded off, leaving him looking quite kind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I never saw him look like that with Iris, Berne thought. He must really love Yuri.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Beside him, Yuri’s fluffy, strawberry-colored hair was styled in braids. She hardly ever wore her hair like this, so it was even more striking. Her enormous green eyes were beautiful, and her expressive face as lovely as ever. The people around her frequently found themselves likening her to a sunflower.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Berne, were you up studying late again?” Edward suddenly asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, kinda…” Berne replied evasively.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no. Are you pushing yourself too hard again?” Yuri asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I assure you, I’m not. I appreciate your concern, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The look of worry on Yuri’s face filled Berne’s chest with warmth. For a moment, his expression went slack. She always found ways to remind him of why he’d fallen for her in the first place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s amazing, Lord Berne!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those were the first words she had ever said to him. At the time, he’d had absolutely no interest in her, so he had brushed her off. It had confounded him to think anyone would find him amazing in any respect. Coming first in academic rankings came simply to him, and his peers seemed to agree it was the natural order.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But to Yuri, Berne’s ability to remain at the top of the class was amazing. She had repeatedly begged him to help her study. It had felt kind of good, and before he realized it, he’d become her tutor. It still brought him joy to see her improving her grades with his help.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Berne, look! Thanks to you, my grades got so much better!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her grades, which had been the middle of the middle of the pack, had shot into the upper tiers. Berne was as happy for Yuri as if this were his own achievement. Somewhere along the way, her high-pitched voice took on a pleasant ring; being by her side brought him comfort. Many girls had approached him in the past, but none had made him feel like Yuri did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, he lost his chance to be with her forever when she and Edward became engaged. However, as long as Yuri was happy, it was fine. Berne would continue to watch over her from their side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On the other hand, Berne had begun to cringe for letting himself become so convinced he was indeed amazing. He had even come to regret ever thinking so. He continued to reign at the top of his academic class, and his memory was as sharp as ever—but his confidence had been shattered by his reunion with Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the academy, his sister had never received impressive grades. Yet on his trip home, Berne had discovered she was not only the president of a flourishing corporation, she was also the acting governor of Armelia. Iris did battle with mountains of documents, spoke in what seemed like a different language as she held meetings, then returned to hacking away at the papers. One minute she was lecturing him, the next minute back to work. She dove so deeply into her business that it made Berne’s head spin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seeing her like that was at once surprising…and traumatizing. Berne had taken to proudly considering himself amazing, but on what basis? He had no knowledge or experience. Compared to his sister, he was just a clever brat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No…it wasn’t just Iris. No doubt many others exceeded him in talent and ability, too. He’d just refused to see them. That was the conclusion he’d come to after returning from Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was for this reason that lately, Berne had been visiting his father to seek instruction. He knew something had to change. Nevertheless, it was frustrating. His father worked him hard, as if to make up for years of dereliction, and consistently dumped massive amounts of homework on him at the end of every session. It took Berne until the wee hours of the morning to finish it all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, Berne noticed Dorssen in front of the academy’s entrance. His muscular body and short hair made him quite distinct.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Dorssen. Morning,” Edward said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning, Dorssen. You seem exhausted… Are you okay?” Yuri asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I was just involved in some training yesterday. I’m fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen was usually stony, but now that Yuri mentioned it, he did seem tired. Berne would never have noticed if she hadn’t pointed it out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… Well, don’t push yourself too hard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for your concern.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lately, Dorssen had been obligated to join the royal knights’ training. It all started when Dorssen’s father, Doruna, had said something about “rebuilding his character” and forced him to do so. Apparently, Duke Armelia’s wife had ceased attending all parties thrown by House Kataberia—Dorssen’s house. House Armelia even gave them the cold shoulder at official events.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In simpler terms, this was the outcome of Duchess Armelia’s revenge. Berne had only learned about it once he started attending his father’s lessons. At the time, he’d recalled Iris’s warning: Think about the results of your actions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When they reached the classroom, everyone turned and greeted them. This was expected, considering the second prince and his fiancée had just arrived. They took their seats, and just as the class chime was about to ring, the door opened again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Morning!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Morning, Van.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van Lutasha entered at the last possible second. He was the son of the pope of the Darryl Church. Because the Church of Darryl was the kingdom’s official religion, his family was treated like one of the peerage. The title of “pope” had even come to be passed down from father to son, like that of a hereditary lord. For this reason, Van was able to attend the academy, which otherwise exclusively served the nobility.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Van, you’re always so late,” Yuri chided. “One day you’re going to get in trouble.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Considering my history, I’m actually pretty early. More importantly, your hair’s even more beautiful than ever, Ms. Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you! Although it doesn’t sound like much of a compliment coming from you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van’s hair was fluffy and blond, with a silky luster that even women who cared for their hair couldn’t always manage. His soft eyes were the standout feature of his androgynous face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, don’t think like that. It really is pretty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-thanks. It must be because of the Azuta Corporation’s beauty products.” Yuri blushed slightly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Van smiled with satisfaction and nodded. “Ah, Azuta.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes! I finally got my membership approved, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unbelievable that a mere corporation made my fiancée wait.” Edward clicked his tongue in annoyance. He’d never liked Yuri and Van getting along, though he was irritable in general.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Prince Ed, don’t say that,” Yuri protested. “Everyone has to wait. It was only fair that I did, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The second that Yuri scolded him, Edward’s expression changed. “You’re so sweet, Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wait, her membership was approved? Berne was secretly surprised. Given his sister’s history with the prince and Yuri, it wouldn’t have shocked him to see Yuri’s application denied outright. Still, knowing Iris, she probably put aside her feelings in favor of conceding to the royal family. Doing otherwise would be bad for business.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It must have killed the servants who love her to watch it happen, Berne thought as he gazed off into the distance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Azuta is so popular. Even I’m still waiting for my membership,” said Van.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know, right?” Yuri enthused. “The president must be an amazing person. I respect them so much. I wish I could meet them!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, perhaps I should summon them to the palace,” said the prince. “They’ll probably trip over their own feet running over, they’ll be so honored.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a good idea!” Yuri rejoiced, innocent to the truth of the matter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne, for his part, broke out in internal sweats. She’ll never come.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In fact, nearly the entire Armelia family nursed a grudge against the second prince. Berne’s visit home had made that all too clear. Not only did his mother flay him with that scathing lecture, but the moment he left Iris’s side, the entire servant staff had completely ignored him. It had been like sleeping on a bed of thorns.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Speaking of invited guests, what about that business we spoke about earlier?” asked Yuri.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, that thing about distributing food at that church?” asked the prince. “Sure, you’ve got approval. Right, Van?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. The Darryl Church will gladly assist in this endeavor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s so good to hear!” said Yuri. “I hope we’ll bring relief to as many people as we can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Obviously, if you’re doing it, everyone will jump for joy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri was a very kind girl. She proposed all sorts of lavish charitable initiatives to Prince Edward, like donating food to the poor, and the prince moved mountains to make her ideas a reality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But do they realize the scope of these events has put a strain on the budget? Berne found himself wondering again amidst their conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No one he knew ever questioned the workings of the system that supported them. The royal family never altered their lifestyle except to make it more extravagant. Queen Ellia often spent money on herself, and Prince Edward showered Yuri in gifts. Yet, the kingdom’s tax revenues hadn’t changed to support these expenditures.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne recalled a particular outburst from his father: If that fiancée of his wants to give back to the people, then she needs to reexamine her own wealth. Those accursed lovebirds. She should sell the gifts she so enjoys from Prince Edward and use that money to hold her charity events. But no, she still begs him for more—she’s taking twice as much as she gives.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One or two charity events a year wouldn’t have threatened the kingdom’s coffers, but the constant stream was putting pressure on the stability of the realm. The kingdom’s vassals, especially Duke Armelia, opposed these events, but the queen and second prince forced them through, and in so doing steadily depleted food stockpiles and incurred indirect labor costs. What was more, the charity events were exclusively held in the royal capital. According to Berne’s father, this “aid” didn’t reach the people most truly in need of it. It was, to him, just a ploy to increase the second prince’s popularity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The consequence of indirect labor costs meant the budget reserved to ensure people could continue working in various jobs had been reduced. As a result, the middle class teetered on the edge of poverty. In the past, Berne had considered Yuri an angel… But perhaps he really had been blind. Again, he recalled his sister’s words:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All you ever ask is why. But fine. The more people who study here and gain knowledge, the more that knowledge will spread among our people. It might take some time, but in ten or twenty years the Armelian standard of living will surely rise. As governor, I believe it’s necessary to look toward that future.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If Yuri truly cared for the people of Tasmeria, she wouldn’t be spending money on random acts of “charity” but working to give them the ability to continually sustain themselves. It had taken a while, but Berne finally understood his father’s and sister’s words. At the same time, a wave of regret washed over his heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He summoned his courage and spoke. “Any more of these charitable events will put a strain on the treasury. Maybe you should consider holding back this time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why would you say such a thing, Berne?” Yuri asked. Tears threatened to flow from her large eyes. “Shouldn’t our priority be to help the people? This would make everyone happy, so obviously it’s a good thing…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Charity is good, but only where it’s needed. Yuri, you shouldn’t be putting these infeasible ideas in Prince Edward’s head—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s the prince of this kingdom! A prince can do anything, can’t he? If the treasury is running low, then replenish it with taxes. Oh, or disband the military? Yes, that’s a splendid idea. This kingdom’s so peaceful, we have no need for a military. Right, Prince Edward?” Yuri smiled at her fiancé, proud of her “perfect” proposal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne couldn’t hide his shock. She’s like a little kid. As innocent as a child and as thoughtlessly cruel. Even a second of deeper thought would make one would realize disbanding the military wasn’t possible. Not only did they defend the kingdom’s borders, but they also kept the peace. Most of all, what of all the people who would lose their jobs? Without proper planning for alternative work, they’d be sentenced to a future of standing in line at Yuri’s one-off charity events.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re so smart, Yuri…” The prince smiled. Then he glared at Berne. “Berne, you’re too stubborn. You’re reminding me of a certain vassal.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive me for stepping out of line.” Berne shut his mouth. Ugh, Father’s going to blow his top again. No… Maybe he never really calmed down in the first place.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s graduating already, huh?” I muttered to myself.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Iris, is something the matter?” Tanya asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mm… I was just thinking about Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A lot of time had passed since I left the academy. I’d been so busy that it really didn’t feel like that long ago, though. It was quite an emotional thing to realize the people I’d known there were going to be graduating. According to the original game’s summary, after a year at the academy, the protagonist got a good ending with one of the love interests. If she chose the Prince Edward route, Iris—i.e., me—ended up expelled from the academy in disgrace while they lived happily ever after, or something. You get the picture.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, if the player chose no love interest, she got a neutral ending. There was no harem ending, like what was playing out in reality… At least, I thought it was. That said, I had been the type to power through games on my own without ever looking at strategy guides or walkthroughs, so I’d only ever reached the second prince’s ending. I didn’t know much about the others. Unfortunately, I had just regained my memories of playing the game right at the conclusion of the plot, so it wasn’t like that extra knowledge helped either.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Incidentally, Berne and I had been born a year apart. However, we had been in the same grade. In other words, Prince Edward and everyone I knew would be graduating at the same time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, do you miss the academy?” Tanya asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose I do have some nice memories of the place, but that’s about it. My days have been so full since my expulsion that I haven’t had time to reminisce.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The effects of their graduation into society remain to be seen. I do hope we’ll be able to separate Berne from their influence.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s no need for you to waste your concern on him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya, Berne is still technically the family heir… I sighed. Talk about cutting him off.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Look, if the kingdom’s not going down in flames any time soon, then the duchy is best served by maintaining a connection with the central government,” I said. “Assuming nothing happens to him, my father will be the prime minister for a long time to come, but…if you consider the future, then we need to prepare for Berne following in his footsteps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, you make it sound like the destruction of this kingdom is a genuine possibility.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You never know what the future holds. After the second prince graduates, I foresee an uptick in conflict, which will mean even more instability.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Would things truly have a good end with Yuri and the second prince living happily ever after? If the conflict between the first prince and the second prince grew more heated, it threatened to bring the kingdom to its knees.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That reminds me, you received a letter from your father,” said Tanya. “What did it say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? He seemed grateful. Apparently Berne has finally started coming to him for lessons. I don’t think I did anything, so he’d be better served thanking our mother for setting it all up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The truth was, I didn’t really care what happened to Berne. The most I thought of him was as a potentially useful pawn.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forgive me if I’m intruding, my lady, but that doesn’t match the look I saw on your face as you read the letter. You seemed…ill at ease.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, well… There was also word of Prince Edward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That certainly had been a shock. Firstly, that Berne had actually begun reporting Prince Edward’s behavior to Father. Secondly and even more shocking, that he reported what Prince Edward said. Berne had objected—Berne, of all people!—to a charity event, saying it would strain the kingdom’s coffers. Then, out of the blue, they suggested we disband the military!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father had told Grandfather about this, sending him into a rage: There’s no wasteful spending in the military! If you want to cut something, cut the royal knights!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The kingdom was currently at peace, there was no denying that. We hadn’t gone to war with another country since the Tweil War, the one in which Grandfather won his glory. However, no formal ceasefire had ever been agreed to. Ultimately, we were in the midst of a lull that could spark back into open conflict at any moment. The fact that this had even been brought up was concerning. Grandfather had returned to the royal capital upon the news.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hate that man,” Tanya whispered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This snapped me out of my thoughts. Her expressionless face made her statement even scarier.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya, I wasn’t pining for Prince Edward, let alone depressed. Not in that way. I was just a bit surprised by the contents of the letter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But it is unthinkable that he should still cause you grief.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I appreciate your concern, Tanya.” I really did. “But now it’s time to get back to work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I finished my teatime and returned to the study. Now that Grandfather had left too, the mansion felt so big. He really filled any room he was in, didn’t he?",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh… Lyle, Dida. What is it?” As I was walking down the hall, I ran into them in front of the study.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m here to submit my report, my lady,” said Lyle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m just bored,” said Dida.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle glared at Dida. “You need to fix that mouth of yours!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "How many times have I seen this scene play out? I wondered as I sat in my chair. “It’s fine, Lyle. Now, how are things with the security force?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Things are going well. While Master Gazell was here, he oversaw our training every day.” Lyle was a harsh critic, too, so they really had to be doing well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, yeah. They can at least hold a candle to us now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well now, that is fantastic.” Oddly enough, Tanya offered an unsolicited compliment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "True enough, if our forces could go toe-to-toe with Lyle and Dida, then they really had improved. The last time I’d snuck a look at their training, my two guards hadn’t even let their training partners draw their swords.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seriously, how strong were my boys? Before he left, Grandfather had told me, “Those two beat me! I must be getting old.” He seemed a bit sad about that, since he’d never lost to them before. But his eyes had also sparkled like an excited child, and I clearly remembered him having mock battles with Lyle and Dida every day until he left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady… If your forces can match these two, then they’re at least as strong as the best royal knights or the foremost soldiers in the military.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That does sound fantastic. Keep up the good work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I appreciate it, Grandfather, I silently thanked him. However, it did beg the question of what he intended to do with our security force. But if anything were to befall the kingdom, a strong force capable of protecting our lands would prove invaluable.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The detached palace was situated apart from the royal palace. While not as gaudy, it was of equally sturdy construction. Closer inspection revealed a masterful attention to detail. The person who called this palace home was Queen Dowager Iria Fons Tasmeria, who valued peace and tranquility. As the queen of the previous generation, she was also the mother of the current king and the highest-ranking noblewoman in the kingdom.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, Alfred. I noticed you were going out with Rudy quite often lately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her eyes were on her grandson Alfred, the first prince. By his side was Rudy, his childhood friend and assistant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re sharp, Grandmother. I’ve found myself quite busy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred smiled as he answered, but Iria sighed internally. Though Alfred was her grandson, she found it impossible to tell what he was thinking from his expression. It was at once a tight yet too natural smile. Even for someone such as herself, who had lived for decades within the world of manipulation and deceit known as high society, couldn’t have read him were it not for the years she had spent raising him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have my sources,” she said. “You’re helping the prime minister clean up after Ellia and Edward’s messes, aren’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The debt accumulated during the Tweil War thirty years past still haunted the kingdom of Tasmeria. They had been managing to gradually pay it back, so barring disaster, there was no real financial threat. Despite this, Queen Ellia and Prince Edward seem determined to sink the kingdom between the constant gratuitous acts of frivolous charity, Ellia’s baroque dresses for official events that she might never wear, as well as the lavish presents Prince Edward bought for his new fiancée.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once, the prince and his fiancée had vacationed at a resort and the girl had said, “This place is so wonderful! Wouldn’t it be wondrous if everyone could enjoy it?” and in his zealous urge to please, Edward had tried to fully recreate the resort in the capital. If he’d meant it as a joke, no one was laughing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thankfully, the prime minister Duke Armelia had staunchly opposed this project and shut it down. This enraged Edward, and he became entirely unreasonable until the commission of Yuri’s dresses was grudgingly approved. But paying for her dresses out of the royal family’s coffers was unheard of. In Iria’s opinion, Ellia and her coddled son were becoming too arrogant for their own good.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The kingdom’s budget was split between the royal family’s and the government’s funds. The royal family’s funds were meant to support their lives and private activities. The government’s funds were, as one might expect, used to run the kingdom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For example, in the case of the queen dowager, her everyday wardrobe was paid for out of the royal family’s funds, while the dresses she wore at official events were considered necessary expenses for the government and covered by the related funds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Furthermore, she paid her servants out of her own pocket—in other words, from the royal family budget. However, the officials that served her as the queen dowager were paid by the government’s funds. The difference was incredibly difficult to tell, but basically it came down to whether they served Iria in her private life or were clerks to one of the kingdom’s top officials, the queen dowager. Her handmaids were the former, and officials were the latter. Custom might also dictate where an individual’s salary originated, but this was the general rule.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, whatever custom might be, Yuri was still only a royal fiancée. There was no precedent for spending either the royal family’s funds or the government’s funds on her daily activities.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, they’ve been making a right mess of things financially, and within the palace as well,” said Alfred, calm as could be. “Especially the queen’s family and their people. Thanks to them, anyone of merit has been chased off, hence our current straits.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And our once-reliable king. Not only did he lose all vigor after your dear mother Sharia passed, now he’s taken ill.” Iria sighed. “Fortunately, the news of the king’s infirmity hasn’t yet leaked to the outside world, but it’s only a matter of time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed.” Alfred smiled softly. “It’s with this understanding that the queen’s family is gathering influence.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Alfred,” Iria said sharply, warningly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I know. I’m not planning to die just yet. I will stay behind the curtain a while longer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As long as you understand,” she said sternly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Until our final preparations are in place, I will continue to operate in secret,” he promised.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean by gathering allies and preparing to excise the corruption.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t hide anything from you, Grandmother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred confirmed nothing, but his answer satisfied Iria. She could trust he would get the job done. “Oh? But what of your secret adventures with Rudy?” she asked. “Leticia misses you greatly. Can’t you share anything about what you’re up to?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia was Alfred’s sister. She was younger than Edward but wise beyond her years. The queen dowager had high hopes for her, similar to those she had for Alfred.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps one day.” Alfred smiled mysteriously again. He didn’t plan on divulging any more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iria allowed him to have this secret, at least for now.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hee hee…”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alone in her tearoom, Iria reflected on her conversation with Alfred. It made her so happy that she couldn’t hide her smile. Despite Alfred’s reticence, she had a keen understanding of where he was spending his time. He visited many places across the kingdom but often returned to the duchy of Armelia. This, fortunately, aligned with Iria’s goal: to wed the duke’s daughter to a member of the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It all stemmed from her love of Iris’s mother, Merellis. The moment Iria first set eyes on that woman’s lovely, doll-like face, she had wished Merellis was her own daughter. However, Merellis had at the time already been engaged to the previous duke’s eldest son, Louis. She’d loved him since she was just a girl, and so Iria had cried but gave up on her dream. The last thing she wanted to do was force the issue and lead Merellis to hate her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She didn’t completely give up, however. If Merellis gave birth to a daughter, Iria knew she had to get her engaged to one of her grandsons, no matter what. She later heard from Louis, Duke of Armelia, that they had been given the gift of a daughter—the girl Iria had hoped for. They had named the child Iris, a combination of Iria and Merellis.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iria worried that she might have gotten ahead of herself, as she hadn’t even seen the girl’s face yet, but the day Merellis brought the young Iris to see her, she fell in love all over again. The child was the spitting image of Merellis, save for the deep blue eyes she’d inherited from Louis, but these lent a certain grace to her features.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iria had to have her for a granddaughter. Politically speaking, it would be better to have the girl marry Alfred over Edward, Ellia’s son. Unfortunately, with the passing of Alfred’s mother, Sharia, Alfred and Leticia had become embroiled in a number of hardships, and while Iria was distracted ensuring their safety, Iris had become engaged to Edward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iria had once roundaboutly asked Iris if she wished to join the royal family, but she had never specified by what means. She’d been sure that even if she said nothing, Merellis would never approve of Iris’s engagement to Edward, the son of a woman Merellis despised. But that belief was turned on its head when Iris fell for Edward. Iris’s doting parents had assented to the union, determined to let the girl do as she wanted. In the end, it had meant Iris would become Iria’s granddaughter, which was her ultimate ambition, so she had reluctantly accepted it as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then the engagement was broken.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When she heard the news, Iria despaired that her plans had once again failed. But, upon re-examination, it proved an excellent opportunity. This time, she would ensure Alfred and Iris married, and she would have that lovely girl for her granddaughter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They said history repeated itself. Well, she wasn’t about to let that happen. Iria swore that no matter what, she would succeed this time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, she began to make her moves. First on her agenda was returning Iris to high society. Even if Iria’s dream did come true, if Iris remained an outcast, there would be trouble ahead.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris hadn’t shown her face once in high society since her expulsion from the academy. If she tried, she would be laughed out over her broken engagement. Now, however, she was the successful governor of a duchy and president of a popular corporation. If anything, it highlighted Edward’s failure in letting her go. All that was left was to create an opportunity for Iris to return to the social season.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps it’s time to get off my rear, the queen dowager thought as she raised her tired hips from her seat.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And they lived happily ever after. The end. That’s it for today’s story.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I closed the book. The crowd of children looked at me with sad eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nooo, more! More!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Read this picture book next!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Aw, so cute! In the corner of my mind, I thought, I must have the goofiest grin on my face right now. I did my best to suppress the urge to read them another book. “I’m sorry, but I really do have to get going now. I promise I’ll be back, so forgive me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Awww…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When will you be back?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The sad voices of the children made me want to stay forever. “I’m not sure when, but I promise. Okay?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okayyy…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Read us another book next time, too!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bid farewell to the orphans and Mina, then took my leave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ugh, I didn’t want to go home. If I ever retired, perhaps I’d work at the orphanage.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lately, I had been giving such ideas serious thought. After having my engagement to the royal family broken, marriage was not something I could realistically hope for. The dream of marital bliss lay in pieces within me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, I would have to retire from my corporation and governance. When that time came, I wanted to spend my life living quietly, surrounded by children. That would be my ideal. Children really were good for the soul. I had zero experience raising them, so I was sure it would be difficult. But at the very least, with them, I was sure my heart wouldn’t feel as cold as it did now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Discrepant interests, negotiations… Such difficulties came with business and politics. Exchanges with the kingdom and other territories took most of my mental energy. I was no saint, but I didn’t want to fail to protect what was important to me because I faltered. Sometimes, that meant turning my heart to stone and cutting off what needed to be cut off, or using who needed to be used. I had to protect my duchy, my citizens, my dear parents, and all the people who so graciously worked for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It made me tired. Not in body, but in mind. I think it was written in some book: Lonely is the head that wears the crown. I wasn’t a ruler on that level, but I had the final say in decisions that changed the fates of countless people. Whatever my title, the responsibility still lay with me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At times, the weight threatened to crush me. But I had taken on this burden, so I had to succeed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, however, I would grow old. I couldn’t keep this up forever. I’d have to find a suitable replacement. And when that time came, I’d live a quiet life surrounded by children…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was getting ahead of myself. But that was just more reason to work hard now, so I could have the peaceful future of which I dreamed.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It had been half a year since my grandfather left the duchy of Armelia. Berne and the second prince graduated without issue, and Berne was studying under my father to learn his duties. The prince’s other sycophants had also returned to their families to learn their trades. I heard even Prince Edward was learning his duties within the palace. He and Yuri weren’t yet officially married. There had been no announcement of when it would happen, but it would surely be soon.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One day, I returned home and headed for my study. First, I glanced over the reports from my corporation and then turned my attention to government issues.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, Dean entered. Ever since I’d collapsed, I’d stopped inviting Dean on my trips into the city even when there was a lull at work. I made sure our days off didn’t coincide, so that no matter what happened, one of us was around to handle things.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Okay, that was an excuse. The truth was, I had been distancing my heart from Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hello, Dean. Let’s hear your report, then,” I said cordially.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. As expected, with the lowered tariffs, exports and imports have increased. Profit is up across the board for all companies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the past six months, we had lowered tariffs and replaced the poll tax with an income tax. The introduction period had been quite chaotic, but as we went, we revised and fixed various issues.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Being a long, thin stretch of territory, the duchy of Armelia enjoyed a multitude of rich port towns on its eastern seaboard. There were other kingdoms across the sea and on our borders, which was a risk in times of war, but for now, our profits exceeded any risk. Plus, being southeast of the royal capital meant they stood between us and hostile Tweil. Compared to that threat, what we faced was nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, thanks to our lowered tariffs, trade with foreign kingdoms was booming. Previously, goods had been taxed going in and out of the duchy, as well as between local towns. We had done away with the export tariff and lowered the rate at which we taxed imports. In the future, I planned to adjust the rates depending on world events and the type of goods.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At present, businesses had increased the variety of products they handled and were consequently seeing higher profits, which made me excited for the business income tax to be introduced, which differed from the personal income tax. The Azuta Corporation had also begun selling to other kingdoms, and we were gradually building up our catalog.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Furthermore, with the increase in the flow of goods had come an interesting discovery: silk.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In my old world, I believe it was in the age of Rome that silk entered Europe and became a highly sought-after luxury good. But for some reason, silk still hadn’t come to Tasmeria. The material imports were mostly hemp, hides, and cotton. When I one day mused on the fact that, for us, cotton had preceded silk, I started to wonder if silk simply couldn’t be produced in this world.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, once trade expanded, I finally got my hands on it. One day, I hoped to produce it locally using silkworms. Although, even if I knew the origin of silk, I honestly had no idea how it was turned into cloth. It would probably take a long time to figure out. For that reason, when tax revenue stabilized, I wanted to offer the patronage of the duchy to anyone willing to conduct a thorough battery of experiments to learn the secrets of silk.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I heard a knock, and in came Sebastian. “Pardon me, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a delivery for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I looked at the letter he handed me, and my eyes went wide. The crest on the seal was that of the royal family. I opened it and quickly got to reading.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why was this sent to me…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was an invitation to the palace for a party celebrating the kingdom’s foundation. This was an official event, so normally, every noble who could physically make it would be in attendance. Keyword: normally. I, however, had not only been expelled from high society, I hadn’t once attended—let alone been invited to—a single event since leaving the academy. That was to be expected, and it made this sudden invitation all the stranger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I may, Lady Iris… This is an invitation from the royal family. It is not possible to turn it down without extraordinary cause.” Sebastian eyed the invitation with a similar level of suspicion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right… I suppose I’ll have to prepare myself for the worst.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do not worry about the duchy. Dean is here, and if anything untoward should occur, I’ll be sure to send a messenger.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I steeled myself. “Good. Thank you, Sebastian.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, I left the duchy and headed for my family’s mansion in the capital. I hadn’t been here in three years, so the experience was overwhelming.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome back, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Every servant was at the door to greet me. Leading them was the head maid, Elulu.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s good to see you again, Elulu,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. For me, there could be no greater joy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re so dramatic.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I walked past the rows of servants and headed for the salon. There, my parents and brother awaited me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There you are,” said Father as I entered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome home, Iris, dear,” said Mother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s been too long, Father, Mother, Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You seem healthy, at least. Be sure to relax while you’re here.” My normally strict father looked at me with a soft expression. That alone was enough to light a spark of happiness in me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will gratefully take you up on your offer,” I said, taking a seat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dear, I heard from Sei that you have a new product,” said Mother. “I can’t wait to see it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not available to be sold yet,” I demurred. “However, I’ll be showing off a test version at the next party. Please look forward to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oooh! Can’t you show it to me later in secret? Please?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s save some excitement for tomorrow,” I said. She agreed to wait, if somewhat sadly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris…are you really attending the party tomorrow?” Berne asked during a lull in my exchange with Mother. He almost looked worried.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do I have a choice?” I asked sincerely. “It was an invitation from the royal family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But Prince Edward and Ms. Yuri will be there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was taken aback by his statement, and an awkward silence fell. “What a surprise…” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne looked at me curiously. “What is?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You actually sound worried about me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His expression darkened a bit. “Well, I realize it’s too late to claim I care, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. Thank you.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the family reunion, I relaxed in my room. The last time I was there, I had been terribly nervous as I waited to negotiate with my father. I had also been so incredibly busy preparing for what would happen afterward that I didn’t remember this room much. Perhaps that just made it more nostalgic.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I sat there, Elulu entered. “Lady Iris, the Master is calling for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My father, huh? I’ll be right there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went to his room to find him sitting in a chair, surrounded by documents. It reminded me of myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There you are,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, pardon the intrusion.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, I hear you’re doing well as governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad someone thinks so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t downplay your work,” he chided. “Anyway, I really must apologize about this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“‘This’ being the party?” I asked lightly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Merry and I tried looking into it, but those who oversee the royal family’s activities and official events insist it’s an honest invitation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What could they be planning, inviting me?” I asked. “There can’t possibly be any advantage for them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, it will just be hell for you,” he said frankly. “The nobility are wretched toward those who have been singled out for ostracization.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I’m prepared for that,” I said, and I meant it. “Since I can’t run away, there’s no use in crying.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father nodded. “Fortunately, the confusion surrounding the king’s absence might provide a bit of a distraction.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I frowned. “The king isn’t attending the Foundation Day celebration? Is something wrong?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was a celebration central to the soul of Tasmeria. Only the gravest of conditions could possibly prevent him from attending.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Six months ago, His Majesty collapsed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The solemn news made me gasp. The king would be absent at the worst possible time. The chaos brewing in the kingdom was now bound to worsen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“At the time, his condition wasn’t critical. But at present, it’s worsened to the point that anyone could tell from a glance that he is sick. I suspect his absence at tomorrow’s celebration will alert the entire kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was to be expected. News of the king’s absence would spread like wildfire.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose you’re right, then. The word on everyone’s lips will be of His Majesty’s absence, not some duke’s daughter. If I can survive tomorrow, my existence will recede once more into the back of their memories. I will promptly return to the duchy and trouble them no more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, indeed…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Though, Father, I’m sure your life will be even more stressful after the party. Try to take care of yourself,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Same to you,” he said, harrumphing. “I heard you collapsed once already.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It was just one day. Since then, I’ve incorporated breaks into my routine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. The body is the capital necessary for work. Let’s both try not to abuse our most vital resource.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day brought perfect weather, so I took my usual yoga routine into the garden. Tanya seemed to have given up on chiding me for doing yoga in a hemp top and pants, but it seemed she never guessed I would do it outside. When she found me, she was in a right panic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’m sorry, Tanya. But good weather is so rare in the capital that I just had to!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, Mother also found me and expressed interest in my routine, so I promised to teach her the next morning. The celebration would take up all our time for the rest of the day, so I needed to start getting ready.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I promptly showered and began my preparations. Tanya helped me into my dress, put on my makeup, and did my hair. Incidentally, the test product I mentioned the day before was the dress I intended to wear. I’d had it constructed from the silk I found. Ah, silk… It had a lovely luster.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You look so beautiful, my lady…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya, too, was taken in by the dress, and she murmured under her breath.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All right, my armor was fitted. My mind was steeled. It was time to head to the battlefield.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 12",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "NICE TO MEET YOU. I’m Reia. Thank you so much for picking up this book. I originally posted this book to Let’s Be Novelists; it was then edited and revised for print.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The heart of this book is the working woman. A woman giving her all for something is wonderful, isn’t it? Then I combined it with a variety of my favorite situations and settings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Speaking of web novels, I absolutely love all kinds of novels. As I wrote in my profile, as a kid, when I got hooked on a book, I’d forget to even eat or sleep. When summer vacation ended and I went back to school, people often said, “You look ghostly pale rather than just pale. Everything okay?” With my biorhythm destroyed, it became a yearly thing for me to battle with exhaustion and sunlight on my first day of school.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even now, the piles of books I’ve collected threaten to overwhelm my room. The other day, as I was sleepily lying in bed thinking, “It’s really late. I should sleep,” a truck passed by the street in front of my place, causing a slight tremor. “That was a big noise,” I thought, but I put it out of my mind and went to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I discovered a cruel sight; the pile of books I couldn’t fit into my bookcase had collapsed. However, I was busy that morning, so I pretended I didn’t see it and left the room to get ready to go. That’s when I realized the truth: the pile of books was preventing the door from opening.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t that obvious?” you might say. But my pile of books wasn’t that high, so I thought I could just jump over it. So I did, and when I put my hand on the door, I remembered: it swung in. So, with tears in my eyes, I was forced to spend my morning moving my books. Thankfully, it was just a truck that time, but if I had been in my room during an earthquake, I might not have been able to evacuate. I realized I had to do something quick… But here I am, still collecting books.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was ten years ago that I first met web novels. They were super popular back then, and once I read one, I too was hooked. I ran out my phone battery reading, and I was always worried I would lose power. Because the novel wasn’t finished, I enjoyed imagining continuations in my head. As a result, I started to think, “I want to read this kind of novel,” and tried writing one. That’s how I started writing this series.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I never imagined back then that I’d get an offer to publish a paper version and that the day would come when I’d write a book. Even today, I still think I’m dreaming.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To my friend, M, thank you for giving me the push I needed when I was struggling. Thank you so much as well to my friends and family who supported me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But most of all, thanks to everyone who read and supported my internet novel, I was able to publish a physical version. Allow me to use this space to express my profuse thanks.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Also, to my editor, K: Thank you so much for reaching out to me and continuing to offer support.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Haduki Futaba, thank you for your wonderful illustrations. They’re so good that I can’t stop feeling excited about them. I put one in a frame and hung it up so I could look at it with a stupid grin on my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Last, but not least, my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who picked up and read this book. Thank you ever so much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "—REIA",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 13",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thank you for reading!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Get the latest news about your favorite Seven Seas books and brand-new licenses delivered to your inbox every week:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sign up for our newsletter!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Or visit us online:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 14",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Color Inserts",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents Page",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Title Page",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Characters",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 1: The Duke’s Daughter Reverses Fate",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 2: The Duke’s Daughter Sets Out on a Trip",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 3: The Duke’s Daughter Runs the Show",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 4: The Duke’s Daughter Faces off against Her Brother",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 5: The Duke’s Daughter’s Heart Quivers",
"loss": null
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{
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"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
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{
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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"value": "Chapter: 14",
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{
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"value": "Table of Contents Page",
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
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{
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"value": "Chapter 1: The Duke’s Daughter Reverses Fate",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 2: The Duke’s Daughter Sets Out on a Trip",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 3: The Duke’s Daughter Runs the Show",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 4: The Duke’s Daughter Faces off against Her Brother",
"loss": null
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{
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"value": "Chapter 5: The Duke’s Daughter’s Heart Quivers",
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"value": "Afterword",
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{
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
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"value": "Chapter: 1",
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{
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"value": "Cover Page",
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"value": "@page { margin: 0; padding: 0; }",
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{
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"value": "body { margin: 0; padding: 0; oeb-column-number: 1; }",
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{
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"value": "div.ImageContainer { width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; }",
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"value": "Chapter: 4",
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{
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"value": "Title Page",
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"value": "Characters",
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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"value": "Chapter: 6",
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{
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"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
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"value": "Chapter: 7",
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 6: The Duke’s Daughter Goes to War",
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 6:The Duke’s Daughter Goes to War",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "THE PALACE WAS DECORATED even more lavishly than usual tonight in honor of Foundation Day. Every year, the royal family hosted a party at the palace to celebrate the founding of the kingdom of Tasmeria.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Every noble in attendance wore their finest clothes—befitting such a fancy yet distinguished event—including the man who had just walked through the palace’s great entryway. The palace itself had beautiful white walls. The high, arched ceilings were exquisitely painted, and each supporting column was intricately carved.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A large crowd of nobles had already gathered. They chatted here and there, as did those still making their way down the hallway to the main ballroom. The man who had just entered wore a beautiful suit—his best clothes, just like the rest of his fellows. But there was something different about him. His eyes were serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To a noble, this celebration was no mere party—it was a nest of bargains and schemes. Of course, they had all come to celebrate the founding of the kingdom, but the man knew he couldn’t get caught up in the festive mood and forget the fete’s true purpose. Years of holding his title as count had taught him that much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He quickly scanned the crowd for a familiar face. If he didn’t spy anyone he recognized, he would have no particular obligation to speak with anyone. Such were his thoughts as he made his way down the long hallway and arrived in the great hall, where the main event was held.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Within, a solemnly refined ambience defined the mood of the celebration. The ballroom had none of the lavish beauty of the entrance hall, but the most skilled craftsmen in the kingdom had poured their talents into the grand room. This lent it an intimidating beauty. Multiple chandeliers sparkled overhead, refracting the light of the ladies’ dresses and making them luminous.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last, the count spotted a gathering of people he recognized and greeted them. That put him slightly more at ease. The Foundation Day celebration required more vigilance than any other function.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For once, the factions supporting the first prince and the second prince—and the neutral faction—were all gathered under one roof. The count’s social standing depended upon those he chose to converse with tonight. One wrong move, and he might well find himself in a situation that would prove incredibly difficult to extricate himself from. He hated to admit it, but it was the truth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, one of his closest friends came over, a genuine smile on his face. “Good to see you here, Count Dranbaldt.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this salutation, Dranbaldt let out all the air he’d been holding in his lungs. “Yes, it’s been too long. How do you fare, Count Caldina?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since this celebration was being held against the tense backdrop of the embattled factions, seeing a familiar face—and that of a good friend, moreover—was an incredible comfort.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“About the same since I last saw you. Oh, I suppose the only news is that my wife’s been besotted with the Azuta Corporation and is dying to get one of their special memberships.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your wife too, hm? My wife awaits her membership as well. It seems it’s something of a status symbol to be on their list nowadays.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Speaking of the Azuta Corporation, that’s Duke Armelia’s business, is it not? Not only is he a shrewd politician—he’s now trying his hand at running a company?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, an enviable fellow, indeed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I couldn’t say it better myself! By the by, Count Dranbaldt, who have you spoken with tonight?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their casual conversation veered into a most serious topic. The question could only even be asked because of the bosom friendship the two men shared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The usual faces. What about you? Who have you spoken to besides the regular crowd?” Dranbaldt asked with a wry grin, to which Caldina shrugged.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Same here. In fact, I think I’ve spent more time worrying about who to engage with than actually engaging.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can understand that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They both let out deep sighs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Look over there,” Caldina urged. Dranbaldt followed the man’s gaze. His eyes landed on Ellia, the second queen. Her flaming crimson hair was matched by a deep red dress edged with golden lace. Her jet-black eyes were demurely half-closed, her perfectly painted lips upturned in an alluring smile. Her father, Marquis Marea, stood by her side. A crowd of nobles surrounded them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? I thought for certain that the queen would attend alongside the king as hostess of the fete.” Dranbaldt regarded the sight with surprise—not at the crowd of nobles but at the second queen. She always cleaved so close to the king’s side, and she used that closeness to maximize her appeal. She especially loved flaunting her influence at parties such as these, so it was quite odd to see her without her husband.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Strange, isn’t it? I thought I was mistaken at first, too. Why wouldn’t she attend in the king’s company, tonight of all nights?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… Perhaps they’re too busy strengthening their position in other ways, or the king simply isn’t coming tonight? One of the two.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come now. It’s Foundation Day! How could His Majesty not attend?” Caldina dismissed Dranbaldt’s theory with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Faced with that logic, Dranbaldt had to agree. “It must be part of their strategy, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes the most sense. After all, look—even the minister of internal affairs is by Queen Ellia’s side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The minister of human affairs was one of the official positions that made up the backbone of the government. Besides the prime minister, there were the ministers of finance, defense, law, internal affairs, foreign affairs, infrastructure, and education.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When did that happen? I knew he leaned toward Queen Ellia’s faction, but I thought he espoused neutrality. She really is fond of flexing her power at these events.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While the two counts conversed, another noble greeted Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The marquis likes us to know his power, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right about that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The marquis had cultivated his influence for some time now, but his desire for power had grown even stronger after his daughter assumed her role as queen. Now he was one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom, and his words carried great weight in the palace.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All of a sudden, a buzz ran through the crowd. Both counts turned toward the entrance. The second prince, Edward, had appeared alongside Yuri, Baron Neuer’s daughter. On either side of them came Van Lutasha and Dorssen Kataberia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Van, the son of the pope of the Darryl Church, wore simple church vestments. Beside him, Dorssen was clad in a black suit befitting a noble’s son instead of his usual knight’s armor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile, Prince Edward wore a deep emerald suit that fit him perfectly. Yuri clung to his arm in a dress embroidered all over with flowers, bringing out her youthful loveliness. White lace and pale primrose-pink fabric peeked out from beneath cutouts along the skirt. It ruffled prettily with every step she took.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure I belong here?” Yuri anxiously looked up at Prince Edward.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you talking about? Of course you do. You’re my fiancée. Hold your head up high and carry yourself with dignity.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…” Yuri’s gaze dropped.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Prince Edward let go of her and clasped her hand. “Yuri. I have vowed to walk by your side. Now and forever.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Prince Edward.” Yuri looked up at him with teary eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Edward gave her a reassuring smile. “They’re only staring at you because you’re so adorable. Ahh, I hate it. I wish I could just lock you up somewhere so I could keep your lovely face all to myself!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s nothing to be anxious about,” Van murmured sweetly in Yuri’s ear, interrupting the romantic interlude. “I’ll protect you no matter what.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen agreed and offered the same reassurance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you two so much.” Yuri smiled at them, looking like a freshly bloomed flower.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You are adored, Yuri, because you’re endlessly kind and because you’re so beautiful. But all you have to do now is keep your eyes on me. All right?” Edward said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri immediately turned bright red.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their saccharine exchange complete, the nobles who had been awkwardly waiting for a chance to approach made their way over to greet the new couple. Such was the expected thing to do when a member of the royal family appeared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But some hung back. Count Dranbaldt and Count Caldina were two of these.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Amazing. So it’s true, Prince Edward really is head over heels in love with Ms. Yuri.” Dranbaldt mused with a wry smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite right. And it seems Prince Edward isn’t here as a host but as a guest. I realize he hasn’t yet succeeded the throne, but I thought for sure that he would take the role of host alongside Queen Ellia—to show her family’s influence. Well, things look awfully intimate between the prince and his lady, so perhaps he doesn’t mind.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While the two men conversed, Prince Edward and his coterie made their way toward Queen Ellia. Upon noticing the prince’s approach, the nobles surrounding the queen made way for him.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Edward! I know my bias as your mother, but you look simply dashing tonight!” Ellia said, clearly in high spirits.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m honored to hear it, Mother. You look exquisite tonight as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re too kind. You look lovely too, Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m flattered to receive such a compliment from the queen, but if I’m being honest, I’m concerned I still look a bit too childish… If only I could be as beautiful and elegant as you, Queen Ellia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh ho ho. You’re perfect just the way you are, Yuri. Now is the only time in life when you’re allowed to be so cute, so enjoy it while it lasts. You have your own charm, after all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.” Yuri smiled shyly at the queen, who looked quite pleased and smiled right back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Van, Dorssen. I entrust the both of them to you,” Queen Ellia said. The two men bowed their heads in response. Then she frowned. “Hm? Is Berne not with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Prince Edward shook his head. “No, he said he had a prior engagement…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia’s expression grew distant for a moment, but then her usual smile overtook her face as if nothing had happened. “I see. Well, go ahead and enjoy yourselves tonight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, the queen resumed her conversation with her circle of nobility, leaving Prince Edward and his companions to themselves.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Counts Dranbaldt and Caldina studied Queen Ellia and her faction from afar. Then, once again, they heard a commotion near the entrance. They turned to see the prime minister, Duke Louis de Armelia, arrive alongside his wife, Duchess Merellis Armelia.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Merellis looks divine as usual,” Caldina whispered. Dranbaldt nodded in emphatic agreement. The two counts were just about the same age as the duchess. She was well loved by those of all ages but had a particularly fervent following among her peers, who considered her the pinnacle of beauty.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As those admirers watched her with ardent delight, she gracefully swept into the room, arm in arm with Duke Armelia. Tonight, she wore a gown in the latest fashion—sky blue to match her eyes, with a midnight-blue shawl over her shoulders. From her elegant appearance to her every subtle movement, it was clear why she was called the Flower of High Society. A crowd of nobles flocked to greet her. The counts had thought the crowd around Prince Edward was large, but it paled in comparison to the one gathering around the duchess.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? What’s this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, the entire room fell silent. Sensing the abrupt change of mood, the counts looked back and forth, searching for the source of the silence. It didn’t take them long at all to identify the proper direction—every noble near the entrance was completely frozen and focused on the same thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Who could it possibly be? Everyone of any note has already made their entrance, Count Dranbaldt thought as he followed their gazes with his own. Then he too was frozen to the spot, stunned by the sight before him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The duke’s son, Berne Darshi Armelia, had come with a woman on his arm, and this woman was the one who had captured everyone’s attention.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Beautiful…” Caldina murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dranbaldt couldn’t even respond; he was beside himself. Yet the same word echoed in his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The woman’s silvery platinum hair was so glossy, it not only caught the light but seemed to emit its own. Her delicate facial features and pale porcelain skin offset deep blue eyes, like flawless sapphires. Her antique-white dress, made of a luxurious, lustrous fabric, was unlike anything any of the other women wore. Furthermore, in lieu of the fashionable hourglass shape with puffed sleeves and voluminous skirts, the dress hugged her curves with a streamlined appearance. It suited her perfectly. The hem was elaborately embroidered with silver and blue thread. Finally, her waist was cinched with a deep blue sash that matched her beautiful eyes, accentuating their color even more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The woman glowed beneath the light of the chandeliers. Her elegant figure inspired someone in the crowd to say, “She’s like a moon goddess,” without a hint of irony. No one could look away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who is she? I’d never forget a woman so beautiful…” Dranbaldt whispered in wonder.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Caldina tipped his head to the side. “If she’s with Lord Berne… Wait, don’t tell me that’s Iris, the duke’s daughter?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It couldn’t be. She was expelled from high society, remember? I understand this is Foundation Day, but she would never show her face in the palace of all places.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm, I suppose you’re right…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, while the two men were convinced the woman couldn’t be Iris, she walked over to Duchess Armelia. The crowd swept away to make a path for her, though every eye remained quite enamored. They’d behaved just the same for Prince Edward, but privately, Count Dranbaldt thought that this woman carried herself even more regally than a member of the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her very presence had altered the entire mood of the party. All eyes were on her, but she seemed unbothered by the attention as she stopped directly in front of the duchess and began speaking with her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It must be Lady Iris! She bears a rather striking resemblance to Her Grace…” Then another door opened, cutting Dranbaldt off mid-sentence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In walked the queen dowager, Iria Fons Tasmeria, the highest-ranking woman in the kingdom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Why is the queen dowager here but not the king? Caldina wondered, but he was quickly overcome by both a feeling of nostalgia and the automatic impulse to bow his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager had once ruled this country after her older brother, the crown prince, passed away, leaving her the sole claimant to the throne. However, since no woman had ever sat alone on the Tasmerian throne, a duke had married into her family and the two had reigned together. During that era, she had hosted countless celebrations and fetes in her position as queen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once her son ascended to the throne, she had remained at the palace and continued to participate in functions for a time. She had since retired from public life and moved to the detached palace, a royal villa on the palace grounds. These days, she only rarely made appearances at any sort of event. Head still bowed, Dranbaldt wondered what in the world could have brought her here.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The music stopped playing as the queen dowager’s soft voice filled the room. “My people, you have all our thanks for joining us tonight in celebration of the founding of our kingdom. Unfortunately, the king is not feeling well this eve, and so he is at rest. He sends his deepest regrets that he was unable to attend.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Upon hearing this, a buzz ran through the nobles of the neutral faction, including Dranbaldt and Caldina.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The king is unwell.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus far, the tension between the factions had remained under the surface of kingdom politics, but the king’s absence would likely intensify this friction. Perhaps the queen dowager hoped her appearance tonight would temper these conflicts? If that was the case, it would make perfect sense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have endured many hardships, and we are only able to welcome this joyous day on account of the efforts of everyone here, and those of our citizens who have supported our kingdom. On behalf of the king, I thank you. Please have a wonderful time tonight, and enjoy yourselves.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as the queen dowager finished speaking, the music began playing once more, and the party resumed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The guests chatted and laughed, but their eyes drifted either toward the mysterious woman with Berne or toward the queen dowager. Then, of all things, the woman in question walked right up to the queen dowager, who had summoned her over. Once the nobles saw this, they forgot all about their own conversations and strained to hear the women’s exchange.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris Lana Armelia,” said the queen dowager, “I’ve been so eager to see you. So much so, in fact, that I decided to attend this party for that very reason.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "More whispers flew through the room. So she was Duke Armelia’s daughter, Iris—that infamous woman, much talked of since her departure. Her return would have been shocking in and of itself. The fact that the queen dowager had just admitted to attending for the express purpose of seeing the duke’s daughter rendered it quite impossible for any noble to hide their surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve so looked forward to hearing about your success as the president of the Azuta Corporation—on top of the impeccable job you’ve done as acting governor of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was all it took to make the nobles momentarily forget their every question and concern about the king. Yet another shock wave ran through the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you hear that?” Caldina asked in disbelief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I certainly did. I can’t believe she’s in charge of the Azuta Corporation! Not only that, she’s simultaneously working as the acting governor of a domain?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I assumed that the duke himself had taken the helm.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I did as well… She really built one of the most prestigious companies in the kingdom at such a young age? And in only a few years? What an incredible talent…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile, the queen dowager continued her conversation with Iris. “I’m sure it’s not been without its hardships, of course. Please always feel free to come to me for advice if you run into any manner of difficulty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You honor me with your offer.” Iris dipped into an elegant curtsy and withdrew. Even though she’d only exchanged a few sentences with her, she understood that the queen dowager had her hands full with greeting other guests. Once Iris left her side, another woman was summoned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris attempted to slip into the background; did she hope to escape the limelight? All eyes remained focused on her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why on earth do you think Prince Edward broke off his engagement with her?” Dranbaldt wondered aloud, thoroughly baffled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, indeed! You heard the queen dowager—that woman is invaluable. Being the president of the Azuta Corporation is attractive in itself, but think of the wealth she must have accrued through it. And on top of that, the influence she has with the queen dowager! Every noble in the kingdom is here, and she was the first person summoned. Then the queen dowager offered her personal advice! That woman more or less just received the backing of the most powerful person in the royal family, and in front of everyone who’s anyone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes… She has beauty, talent, lineage, backing… Any one of those on its own would make her a perfect match. Why, I’d say she has all the qualities one might wish for in a woman near to the throne. But instead, Prince Edward slighted her, broke their engagement, and immediately engaged himself to another woman! It leaves a terrible impression, frankly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But fortuitous for the first prince’s faction.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Indeed, if Prince Edward’s marriage to Iris had succeeded, he would have had the backing of the two most powerful noble houses in Tasmeria, Marea and Armelia, the latter of which included the prime minister. In that case, his ascension to the throne would have been all but guaranteed. Yet he had thrown it all away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The question now was how Iris would reenter the fray. The first prince had no fiancée. If Iris did somehow marry him, the two would stand a real chance of unseating the second prince, whose greatest weapon was the backing of House Marea and their supporters.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No doubt, the as yet neutral faction was inwardly snickering while the first prince’s supporters were over the moon. Meanwhile, the second prince’s supporters were gritting their teeth, beside themselves at the sight of this wondrous catch who had escaped them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was the impression Iris left on the court. Everyone waited on tenterhooks for an opportunity to approach her, but none could seem to find one. She was already engaged in conversation with her family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One person, however, failed to read the room and approached her anyway.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s wonderful to see you again, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was utterly and entirely confused. It was bizarre enough that I had been invited to the Foundation Day celebration in the first place, and it had taken every bit of courage I could muster to even walk through the doors. But much to my surprise, I had been greeted not by the glares I expected but with fascinated and curious stares.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Bewildered, I was suddenly struck with a terrible case of nerves. Not only that, the queen dowager instantly summoned me to her side and, to my disbelief, declared her open support for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Was she the one who invited me? I wondered. If so, then I had accomplished my mission here. I let out a relieved sigh and retreated to a corner of the room where I might spend the rest of my night silently.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then she appeared before me. Yuri.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And not just her, but a terribly disgruntled Edward by her side, along with Van and Dorssen, all of whom stared at me as if I had grown a second head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s nice to see you again,” I said with a smile. I hoped it didn’t look too fake.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been so long since your time at the academy,” said Yuri. “I’m so pleased to see you’re looking well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Was she trying to imply something or was this genuine concern? Honestly, I never knew when it came to her. Either way, the least I could do was exchange pleasantries.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m pleased to see you well in turn, Ms. Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can hardly believe it’s really you, Lady Iris,” Van interjected from Yuri’s side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri smiled. “See, I told you I never forget a face. Plus, she was with Berne, so it had to be her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She’s just changed so completely—I hardly recognized her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was so shocked to hear them exchange such overt opinions about me right in front of my face that I couldn’t speak. It was the height of rudeness.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re so smart, Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eh he he… Thank you, Prince Edward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yes, yes. It seemed everything was still sunshine and rainbows with these two. But really, how incredibly inconsiderate of Edward to have this conversation under his ex-fiancée’s nose. Honestly, I expected as much of Yuri, but had Edward always been so witless? I had to wonder. Then I remembered the last thing he’d said to me at the academy and all those doubts flew away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, what ever are you doing here today, Lady Iris?” Another unexpected jab from Yuri made my smile crack for a split second.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What am I doing here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri’s gaze flitted away awkwardly. “Well, because you…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no reason to ask when you know the answer. Because there is none. You have lost your right to attend high society functions, Iris.” Edward spoke over Yuri as he glared at me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He really had no justification for all that hostility.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lost my right? I—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yuri’s a kind soul. So she was trying to give you a warning,” he continued, interrupting my attempt to defend myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Will you listen to me already? I frowned. “A warning?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, Yuri seemed baffled by Edward’s assertion and blinked at him curiously.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve come here tonight by invitation of the queen dowager,” I said. “My attendance has nothing to do with my particular right. I merely followed orders as a subject of the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Grandmother invited you?!” Edward seemed stunned. Had he not just seen me speaking with her? “No, there’s no way she would extend an invitation to someone so wicked. If you’re going to lie, at least try to come up with something more believable next time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was just about to retort that this was no way to talk to someone with whom he had once been engaged, but Yuri spoke before I could.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-um, I—that wasn’t what I meant.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me?” I was so baffled by Yuri’s statement that I momentarily forgot my anger. What did she mean, then? She was the one who’d started this!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What I meant to ask was, are you perhaps here tonight to promote that dress?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Promote?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yes! I mean, you’re from Armelia, aren’t you? And that’s where the Azuta Corporation is based. So I was thinking maybe someone at the company had asked you to come advertise the dress here or something.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No one from the Azuta Corporation had to ask me to do anything, because I owned the company. They must have no idea that I’m the president, I thought. I remembered then how Sei told me that Edward had made quite the fuss when Yuri applied for membership.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This made me even more certain that they had, in fact, failed to see me speak with the queen dowager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not here to promote anything,” I told Yuri. “But I did want to show off our new product, which is the material this dress is made from.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, I knew it! It’s beautiful. I want a dress made out of that same fabric. How can I buy it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From there, Yuri and I continued our conversation, leaving Edward entirely out of the equation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We don’t have enough of the material to sell any fabrics yet, but we’ll begin manufacturing apparel once we do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I see. Well, it’s so gorgeous I thought I’d just die to have one of my own. Isn’t there anything you can do to make that happen?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m very happy to hear you like it so much, but I’m afraid we need more time before we can begin selling. Please understand.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not to mention, the country I’m importing the silk from is charging me an arm and a leg. I might have been tempted to make an exception for a valued member, but such a project really would put me in the red when I thought about the import costs. It was going to take a while before we could launch the wide-scale sale of silk dresses. We didn’t even have the stores to sell the fabric itself at a profit. We’d used up everything we had to fashion the dress I was at that moment wearing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…” Yuri frowned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-that’s right,” Edward said hastily. “Yuri’s going to be part of the royal family, and she’s making a request. It’s your duty to accommodate her!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid it’s impossible.” Despite my best efforts, I let out a deep sigh. They were being so stubborn with these unreasonable demands. Speaking with them was exhausting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-why, you insolent…!” Edward’s face reddened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fortunately, most of the surrounding crowd was too absorbed in enjoying the music or their own conversations to pay us any heed. But the ones closest to us did stare, wondering what in the world was going on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, how troublesome.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My, my. What’s the commotion over here?” My mother suddenly appeared from behind me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri brightened. “Ah, Duchess! It’s a pleasure to see you again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mother ignored Yuri as she would the breeze and came straight over to me. “Are you all right, dear?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I’m fine, Mother. I’m so sorry for the fuss.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Duchess Armelia!” Edward addressed my mother with the same tone he’d used on me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She frowned ever so slightly at the sight of him. “Oh, Your Highness. Why ever are you raising your voice in the middle of a party? What could be the matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The matter is that you just ignored Yuri. Under certain circumstances, that could be considered akin to treason, you know!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, Sir. Enough with the jokes. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the rules of the court?” My mother swept her fan upward, hiding her mouth—as well as a deep sigh just like the one I had let out, perhaps? She spoke clearly, staring down at both Edward and Yuri. “It would be uncouth for a member of the lower class to preemptively address someone of higher status. And if Ms. Yuri here is to be your wife—in fact, because she is to be your wife—it is critical that we abide by those rules.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But Yuri’s my fiancée.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed, so she is. But a fiancée is not a wife. In other words, she is not yet part of the royal family. Her social status remains the same as it ever was. What’s more…you never know what might happen before a wedding.” She cast a meaningful glance in my direction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ah, right. This jerk had a track record of breaking off engagements. Case in point: me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, quite,” Van said, too smugly for my taste. “Yuri isn’t yet married to Prince Edward. However, he chose her to be his fiancée. And the queen dowager herself has given them her blessing. This engagement has the full support of the royal family. Unlike his previous situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My engagement with Edward had been arranged by my family, not the royal house. Van’s implication was obviously that since Edward had personally chosen Yuri, he wouldn’t cast her off like he had me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I clenched my hand around my fan. Nothing Van said was incorrect. But how dare he say it to me in public?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yuri’s a kind girl,” Dorssen added. “Kindness is a necessary quality for anyone who will stand above others. I’m certain she’ll be a lovely queen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As opposed to someone like me, widely blamed for bullying Yuri? Whether that was his intended implication or not, I was so irritated by this point that everything felt like an insult.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me, Merellis—Your Grace…” Yuri spoke. “But I’m not sure social status has anything to do with greeting someone. If someone greets you, isn’t it merely common courtesy to return their greeting?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mother and I—and every single person around us—turned to stare at Yuri in shock. Well, except for Edward and Yuri’s cronies. They didn’t look shocked at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Common courtesy, eh? The world of aristocracy was chock-full of formalities to observe and rules to follow. Doing so wasn’t easy. But in this world, the king sat at the top of a pyramid with every other noble underneath him; etiquette was a vital part of ensuring the stability of that pyramid. Certainly in Japan, it would have been considered terribly rude to ignore anyone who greeted you. But just as there were proper ways to greet someone and return said greeting in Japan, this world had its own rules.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ms. Yuri, should you become a member of the royal family, you will be expected to behave in accordance with the court,” my mother said, hiding another sigh behind her fan.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Those courtly rules you speak of represent an antiquated way of thought,” Edward declared. “And if you assume that way of thinking will always prevail, you’re wrong. Once Yuri becomes queen, she’ll break down those old ideals and bring a breath of fresh air to this kingdom.” He slid an arm around Yuri’s shoulders and squeezed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, I could have ignored such a sentimental display. But not paired with those words. If they had been directed at me? I likely could have brushed it off. But had he just called my mother, the Flower of High Society, old and antiquated?!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A breath of fresh air… How very lovely,” I said with a smile on my face. “When Ms. Yuri eventually becomes queen, I understand that will be her way of thinking. However, Ms. Yuri is not yet the queen. And in order to change long-held traditions, why, she would need the acceptance and approval of everyone to whom those traditions are precious. You know, those same nobles who, here and now, you say cleave to such antiquated ideals. Suffice to say, I think it profoundly unwise to disrespect them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My words made Edward’s face turn a purplish shade of red, exposing his anger. “The impudence! Someone such as you does not even belong here! Leave this place at once!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your Highness,” my mother chided. “You cannot simply ignore the wishes of the person who invited Iris here in the first place with your demands.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Merellis is right,” said the queen dowager herself as she joined the conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Grandmother?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness, are you sure you shouldn’t be in your seat, Your Majesty?” my mother asked nonchalantly, in direct contrast to Edward’s shocked reaction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Never fear. I’ve seen to most of my pleasantries. More importantly, Iris—come with me. I wish to hear tell of all your recent exploits! Will you be staying here, Merellis?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I think not.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wonderful. Duke Armelia and Marquis Anderson are over there waiting for you. Go tend to them, would you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Berne, I hate to leave you alone. Why don’t you go give your father some company, too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Your Majesty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that all that was settled, Edward repeated himself. “Grandmother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Edward?” the queen dowager responded coldly. “My, you’re noisome today. Numerous delegates from other countries are attending the celebration tonight, so I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly. But perhaps you need to cool your head. You’ll shame our kingdom if you continue with this kind of behavior.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, she began walking, with me and my family following her. As we left Edward and his companions, I cast a glance in his direction. He sent me the most intense glare I’d ever received.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was certain he would blame me for all of this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At any rate, the queen dowager once again took her seat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The celebration was filled with many prominent faces, all of whom were smiling, yet they nevertheless made for an intimidating crowd. Among the foreign guests in attendance were many people of high social standing who held prestigious posts. Then there were the top military officers of the kingdom, including my grandfather, along with the ladies and gentlemen who held important positions in the court. The fact that they all flocked around the queen dowager proved that she still held incredible influence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I worried again over whether it had been wise to come, but I still obediently listened to the queen dowager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, I’m so sorry for that dreadful situation you were just subjected to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all! Your Majesty has no need to apologize for anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, it was I who invited you, so I am responsible for any poor treatment you endure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Poor treatment… I was prepared for him to say such things to me. In fact, I remain surprised anyone has anything kind to say to me at all. Which brings me to ask, Madam, why did you invite me here in the first place?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, because I’m cheering for you. Seeing a woman working as hard as you do is just so wonderful. So, I was very much looking forward to speaking with you tonight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Relatedly, the chocolate treats your company concocts are simply delicious. I’ve been treating myself to some every day lately!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh! I had no idea you were a fan of our chocolate. I’m incredibly honored.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite. Honestly, I’d love to go to the shop and pick some out myself, but I’m afraid my position doesn’t allow me that sort of freedom…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Was there something else going on here? The queen dowager just seemed to be showering me with compliments. But I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If it would please you, Madam…perhaps I could regularly send you a sampler of our company’s catalog?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my! Would you do that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course. I will have to return to the duchy soon, though. But with your permission, I can send someone from the company to bring you an array of products to select from.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That would be wonderful! Yes, please do that. Oh, look at the two of us, having all the fun! I’m so sorry. Would you like to try some, too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager noticed some foreign guests looking at us curiously and motioned to a servant, who brought over a box. The box itself was so ornately decorated it almost looked like a treasure chest. But when the servant opened it, I was surprised to see it filled with Azuta Corporation chocolates.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager picked one up and happily took a bite. “Please, go ahead!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The servant passed chocolates out to the nearby guests, and they all sampled one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Delicious!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… I’ve never tasted anything like this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Neither have I… This is so delicious, I can’t imagine a soul who wouldn’t love it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was certain some of them had never tasted chocolate before. They all had quite a favorable reaction. Although I’m sure a hefty part of that was because the queen dowager herself had recommended them. However, since she had generously given me the opportunity to promote my products, I wasn’t going to let that slip past.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so pleased to hear you like them!” I said to the people who seemed most surprised. “I heard that in your country, you enjoy refreshing fruits instead of sweets, so I was curious to see if you would like the chocolate.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? You know where we’re from, even though we haven’t introduced ourselves yet?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course! You’re such important guests to Tasmeria. It’s only natural that I be aware of visitors to our wonderful kingdom.” This kind of response was what I had been coached to perform during the short time when I was preparing to marry into the royal family. I had been educated on all our neighboring countries and our relationships with them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm… Yes, it’s just as you say; in our kingdom, we prefer fresh, subtle flavors.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. Well, those chocolates are just one of the many products we offer. I would love for you to try the other flavors we have to see which one you like the most.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The foreign guests chuckled at the idea of me using such an occasion to pitch my products, but at the same time, their eyes shone with curiosity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Interesting. I’ll have to do that sometime.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite. I’d love to bring some nice items back home to share.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Great, they’re loving the idea. I was starting to think that it had been a good idea to come to the celebration after all, at least from a financial standpoint.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, I spent some time chatting with the queen dowager and answering questions from and asking questions of the foreign guests. For the most part, I inquired about their culture and tastes, so they answered me readily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yes, this had been most advantageous indeed. I could take the information I gathered here back to my company with the goal of eventually exporting our products to these other countries. And now I had intermediaries lined up to begin the process.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After some time, the music changed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure you don’t want to dance, Iris? Pardon me for keeping such a young woman all to myself!” the queen dowager whispered apologetically into my ear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for your kind concern, Madam, but I’m so enjoying chatting with you and the other guests. Not to mention, there’s no one in particular I’d like to dance with…” I lowered my voice with that last sentence so that only she could hear me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Although I’d been able to more or less repair my image, thanks to the queen dowager’s attention, it was hard to ignore the fact that the second prince’s faction was still glaring daggers at me. In other words, it benefitted me much more to remain at her side than to go find a dancing partner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris, I’m certain that the moment you step out onto the dance floor, you’ll be inundated with requests! And there are plenty of men here who’d love to dance with you, too.” The queen dowager cast a glance to my side where Berne stood. “Isn’t that right, Berne?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. I’d love to dance with my sister—with your permission, Your Majesty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you hear that, Iris? What do you say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, then. I’ll take you up on the kind offer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was that. Berne escorted me toward the dance floor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forgive me for taking you away from the queen dowager, Sister.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine. But I’m certain you don’t actually want to dance with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You won’t be able to speak with the other nobles if you stay cooped up over there the whole night. Of course, it’s important to remain in the royal family’s good graces, but your connections with the rest of the nobility are important as well. In fact, Father told me to fetch you because he suspected the queen dowager was probably suggesting you go dance—he thinks she’s worried about that exact thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, so Father sent you? Then there’s no reason for you to apologize. Perhaps I should be the one to tell you I’m sorry, for taking up your time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not at all. Still, Sister… Your heart must be made of steel,” Berne said with a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a bit rude to say to someone, even if they are your sister.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d think it about anyone who carries themselves with as much composure as you did in front of all those foreign dignitaries.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…” Now that I thought about it, I had certainly been out of my league with that group. They were all incredibly prominent individuals, and much older than me as well. They probably wouldn’t have given a young woman like me a second glance if not for the backing of the queen dowager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last, Berne and I arrived at the dance floor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a long time since you and I danced together like this, hasn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It has, Sister.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so we began to dance.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My, how beautiful…” Marquis Gazell Daz Anderson, the general of the kingdom who was hailed as a hero, sighed as he watched his granddaughter Iris dance. “I may be a rugged sort without the least interest in dance, but even I can see how beautifully she moves, Louis.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The self-professed rugged man had, however, shaved his usually scruffy beard and slicked back his wild hair in honor of Foundation Day. Under normal circumstances, when he stood next to his daughter Merellis, his peers often teased him and said they looked like Beauty and the Beast. But he had cleaned himself up such that it was apparent where Merellis’s good looks had come from. In fact, many young women had been stealing glances at him all night.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should tell her that yourself later. I’m sure she’d love to hear it,” said Louis.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. Not from an old man like me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really should think more highly of yourself, Gazell.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That goes for Iris as well. Take a look around. Prince Edward is dancing with Ms. Yuri, and Van and Dorssen are terribly popular with the young people—yet all eyes are on our Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "General Gazell was right; until Iris and Berne had arrived on the dance floor, the young guests had been uniformly focused on Prince Edward and his group, just as their parents, the older generation, had been keenly interested in the queen dowager’s conversation with Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now, however, everyone was watching Iris, regardless of age or gender. She sparkled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Everyone will want to make her acquaintance now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I agree. But that means she has returned to this cutthroat world.” Louis’s face clouded, his eyes filled with sympathy and concern.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True. So it’ll be as it was when she attended the academy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure. But the people she’ll meet now are far more cunning than they were back then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but you called her to the capital because you believed her capable, did you not?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It wasn’t a matter of believing in her. It was necessary in order to ensure she could continue running the duchy and managing her company.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why can’t you just admit it?” Gazell said with a wry smile. “Ah, Iris has retired.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as he said, Iris had left Berne’s side to go fetch a drink. She looked a bit tired after several rounds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wonder who will approach her first?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What in the world is Berne thinking? I told him not to leave her side under any circumstances.” Louis sounded slightly irritated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, Louis. Look over there…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Louis followed Gazell’s gaze, his eyes widening at what he saw. “Berne still has his eye on Ms. Yuri…?” he asked, a dangerous glint in his eye.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, Berne had no idea that his father was watching him as Yuri invited him out to the terrace.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you want something?” he asked her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not especially. Can’t I just want to speak with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t say that,” Berne responded softly. Yuri smiled and was about to open her mouth, but he beat her to it. “But you’re officially engaged to Prince Edward now. And if you will eventually become the queen, you must serve as an example to the other nobles.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So I can’t talk to my friends?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Friends, hm? Of course you can. But if people see us conversing alone, they might misunderstand our relationship and twist their version of events until everyone believes it. I have no desire to become involved in a situation that could so easily be misconstrued.” Berne smiled as he said this, but his eyes were dismissive.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But I’m worried about you,” Yuri pressed. “You’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t seen you at all. You always work so hard that you forget to take care of yourself. So I’m afraid you’re pushing yourself again…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not pushing myself at all,” Berne replied, his mind suddenly returning to a memory of his sister—her lights on late into the night as she worked tirelessly, buried under a pile of papers and books as tall as she was. That sight had inspired him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure? I’m just concerned because I know how hard you can be on yourself…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re something of a dream, aren’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri gave him a surprised look for a moment, and then a pleased, shy smile spread across her face as she glanced away. That was why she didn’t notice how frosty his gaze had become.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But I’m a man who lives in reality. So please, Ms. Yuri… Forget about me and live in your own world.” With that, Berne walked away from her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your words had a bit of a sting to them, didn’t they?” Merellis remarked as she walked over to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you doing here, Mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was taking a break from the party and spotted you with Ms. Yuri. I wanted to see how you reacted to her. Your father was quite concerned, but he can’t slip away as easily as I can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. I’m sure it wasn’t terribly interesting,” Berne said with a bitter smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“On the contrary. I found it incredibly interesting. Especially the last thing you said to her, which, translated bluntly, means ‘The two of us live in different worlds, so stop flirting with me.’ Or something to that effect, no?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. And I meant what I said, about her being some manner of dream. That wasn’t figurative.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dreams make everything softer and kinder. They’re an escape for when life isn’t working in your favor. That’s why I got so lost in her. But dreams are nothing more than an illusion. Fleeting, intangible…not real. That’s how I feel about her words—no, her entire being now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before, Yuri had suggested charity events to help the citizens. Berne was sure they had helped a few individuals, but none of them had actually solved any underlying problems. They were just delaying suffering.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All you ever ask is why. But fine. The more people who study here and gain knowledge, the more that knowledge will spread among our people. It might take some time, but in ten or twenty years, the Armelian standard of living will surely rise. As governor, I believe it’s necessary to look toward that future.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was what Iris had said as she looked over her academy with a smile. Now Berne knew that behind that smile lay the back-breaking work she had put in to make it all happen. Despite the struggles that reality had laid before his sister, she had gritted her teeth and worked to make her dreams become reality. Since witnessing her in action, Berne had grown ashamed of how he had run from hardship into his own sweet dreams.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, he had woken up. At the same time, he realized what he had done, and also what he hadn’t.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve realized I can’t afford to get distracted, so therefore I no longer have time for distractions. I only want to move forward without bringing shame to the Armelia name.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My! You’ve become awfully mature, haven’t you?” his mother said with a smile. “But it’s still not enough. You lost your father’s trust once, so I’m looking forward to seeing how you regain it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re so strict with me, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The duchess responded to that with a smile as well. Berne bid his mother farewell and then went off to look for Iris. It was quite simple to find her, seeing as she was surrounded by a large crowd of people, all around their parents’ age. They seemed absolutely enraptured by their conversations with her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She appeared to be keeping up well, but as soon as Berne arrived by her side, she let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, everyone. But I must excuse myself now that Berne is back.” He took the hint and escorted her out of the room.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The day after the Foundation Day celebration, the queen dowager summoned Alfred, the first prince, to the detached palace to speak with her. There, she regaled him with the story of the fete he had not attended.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that how it went?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but it would have been far more amusing if Ellia and her family swept in and made a scene. But she was so fixated on trying to flaunt her position to the crowd that she entirely failed to notice! Marquis Marea did, mind you, but he knew better than to attempt to insert himself into the exchange, let alone participate.” The queen dowager sounded dissatisfied.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In contrast, Prince Albert nodded with approval. “Avarice will do him no favors. Of course, we can’t let our foreign guests witness our kingdom’s mess. Nevertheless, you managed to slow the momentum of the second prince’s faction and kept the neutral faction in check. I would expect nothing less from you, Grandmother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t have to lift a finger. Edward sabotaged himself, I suppose you could say. Has that child always been so thoughtless?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I couldn’t say. He’s always been headstrong. I think the best way to describe him at present would be to say he’s a runaway horse with no rider,” Prince Alfred mused, to which the queen dowager nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And the person who set the horse loose from the stable is that baron’s daughter, no? Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve looked into her background.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course. Rudy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Majesty.” Rudy, who stood at alert next to the prince, took a step forward. “Ms. Yuri is the illegitimate child of the Baron Neuer and a servant who worked at the palace. The servant resigned her position here and joined House Neuer. However, she left while still pregnant with Ms. Yuri. The baron searched for the woman and girl for more than a decade and finally found them shortly before Ms. Yuri joined the academy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If the baron searched for so long, they must have been quite important to him,” said the queen dowager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By “important,” she implied how dearly the baron must have loved both Yuri and her mother. In other words, she had grasped the baron’s weakness. Sadly, the world of aristocracy was not the world of fairy tales, and no one could survive with the power of love alone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies, but that is the extent of my findings for now,” said Rudy. “I’m still looking into the baron’s situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Please continue your investigation, and don’t overlook anything, no matter how small—not even the most inconsequential detail.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Madam,” Rudy answered with a smart bow.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager glanced at Prince Alfred. “It’s certainly more convenient for you if Prince Edward is running about every which way, granted.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I haven’t the slightest idea what you mean, Grandmother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager sighed inwardly. Her grandson always kept his cards so close to his chest. “I’m sure a number of individuals in the second prince’s faction were displeased with the night’s events. Just as there were a number happy to see the riderless horse and consider that they might take those loose reins for themselves. Either way, they’ll make themselves more visible and their faction will suffer, especially as Edward carries on. Hence, it’s all quite favorable for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t deny that he makes good bait,” Prince Alfred answered with a wry smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager thought he sounded genuine enough.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Too few noble houses still took pride in standing above and protecting the citizens. Instead, they obsessed over their prestige and lived as extravagantly as possible. They took pride in their status for their own self-satisfaction and vied for power and influence purely for the sake of their selfish pursuits. To these people, the royal family was not something to revere but a resource to manipulate. Therefore, in their eyes, Prince Edward was the ideal candidate for the throne. They saw him as easy to control; with him in power, they would be able to do as they pleased behind the scenes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now, surely even more people would join the second prince’s faction with that goal in mind. Even more so if Prince Alfred refused to come forward as an alternative candidate. He had not been seen in public for ten years, after all, not since he was a child. He had attended the royal academy in secret, concealing his true name and lineage. In all likelihood, very few people remembered him. Thus it was no wonder that certain people threw their support behind the easily manipulated Prince Edward instead of the reclusive first prince.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But now there was at last a chance to rid the kingdom of all these people, all at once. More chances would doubtlessly arise if Prince Edward continued on as he had at the Foundation Day celebration.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So? Have you decided your next move?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Prince Alfred remained silent, with nothing but a smile on his face. Once again, the queen dowager couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. He was her own flesh and blood, yet he remained inscrutable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, no matter,” she said. “Regardless of what you decide, I’ve already agreed to it. Whatever the outcome, all that boy must do is continue playing the fool.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had long since decided she couldn’t expect anything else from Prince Edward so long as Yuri remained an influence upon him. In all honesty, she had once considered exercising her own power to pull his strings, but she had decided that too risky an investment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Conversely, though she never knew Alfred’s true thoughts, she had every confidence that he would never endanger the kingdom’s future. Even if he somehow failed to live up to her expectations, he was a far better choice than Edward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the by, I invited Iris to the celebration,” she said. “She’s grown into quite the beautiful young lady, hasn’t she?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Prince Alfred’s expression tightened slightly when she mentioned the girl’s name, but he swiftly regained his usual mask. “Why did you go to the trouble of inviting her, Grandmother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager heard the slightest edge in his voice. That pleased her. It went to show how much he cared for the girl. “I adore a hardworking girl. It’s only natural, isn’t it, that I should want to see her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris was blessed with Merellis’s beauty and Louis’s noble aura. If the people compared Merellis to a bouquet of roses, they could liken Iris’s pure, refined beauty to that of a lily. Two different types, yet I prefer the latter, the queen dowager thought with a satisfied smile, reflecting on Iris’s exquisite appearance at the celebration.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s only to her advantage, no? Now she’s forged valuable connections to influential people from other kingdoms. And Merry says she’s already received several invitations to visit new acquaintances within the capital as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyone of intelligence would desire her acquaintance.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure. What with her wealth, skills, beauty, and lineage…she makes for an incredibly attractive prospect. Don’t you think so, Alfred?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes,” he answered plainly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager frowned. She wished he had at least shown a reaction on his face. She studied him keenly, making no attempt to hide that she was doing so. Once he noticed her gaze, his wry smile deepened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems you’d like to say something to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not particularly.” There’s no use trying to loosen those lips. So she changed the subject, choosing to be content with the slight reaction she had provoked. “Incidentally, Alfred, I was wondering if you’d tell me your thoughts on the duchy of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, the state of their government and general reorganization, of course. What else could I mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To sum it up in one word, I would probably say it’s intriguing. The acting governor aggressively instated a variety of new policies. If I were to speak as a member of the royal family, my main points of interest would be the duchy’s capacity for growth and its military power. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a hundred years, the duchy of Armelia grew more materially powerful than the rest of the kingdom combined.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought you would say as much. In most cases, I’d disapprove of one house acquiring so much power. But if the kingdom wishes to progress, then its domains must also, and we cannot hamper the rate of that progression.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you say, but I know you have no interest in interfering with that family’s affairs. You’ve proven as much by neglecting to curtail the duchy’s private soldiers—they’re at least as skilled as the royal knights.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you in any position to criticize? I know you’ve secretly been doing everything in your power to ease Iris’s work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this, yet another wry smile appeared on the prince’s face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So long as no one involved with their house harbors any ulterior motives, it seems silly to be suspicious of them,” the queen dowager concluded. “Especially as no other noble family works so diligently for the kingdom and our citizens. To wit, I’d be more concerned that they would take offense at our meddling.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not even the royal family would escape unscathed if they made enemies of House Armelia. Furthermore, if they did somehow lessen Armelia’s influence, it would only be divided among the other houses. It was more convenient, in the end, to keep that power with a family they trusted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, the queen dowager and the prince talked business for a time. Prince Alfred had been hard at work cleaning up Prince Edward’s messes during the king’s absence—with help from the prime minister. The queen dowager had given them her full support in these endeavors.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once they had covered every issue at hand, the prince bowed and excused himself. “Well, Grandmother, I should be going now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last, he left alongside Rudy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 8",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 7: The Duke’s Daughter, Busy in the Capita...",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 7:The Duke’s Daughter, Busy in the Capital",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“THAT’S AN AWFUL LOT of invitations.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the celebration, I took the day off to relax at home with some tea. I felt more mentally than physically exhausted, to be honest. Nevertheless, I was earnestly trying to take it easy while I chatted with Mother, at which point the butler glided in carrying yet another stack of letters.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Monroe and Lord Rudolph are writing to me?” Mother asked. “Please, they’re Ellia’s sycophants. As if I’d grace their doorsteps.” That biting dismissal was just so like my mother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’ve also sent invitations for your daughter, Your Grace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even more ridiculous! Although I see why they’re so desperate to connect with Iris after the celebration. Do you wish to see them, dear?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. Not even a tiny bit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Me, have tea with people who supported the second prince’s ascension? There was nothing I wanted to do less. Who knew what kind of trap I would be walking into? Moreover, at this",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "point, there was absolutely nothing to gain in developing a relationship with any of them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought as much,” Mother said with a sigh as she sipped her tea. “But is there anyone you do wish to visit?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. House Dungley.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The marquis? Ah, that’s right—I quite forgot his daughter was your classmate.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. We were fairly close at the academy.” I was wondering how Mimosa was doing. We’d exchanged a few letters after I left, but I hadn’t seen her in nearly two years.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then it’s decided. Does anyone else catch your fancy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm… Who do you think I ought to call on, Mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be honest, I just wanted to return to Armelia, but I’d come all the way to the capital, so I thought I had better make the most of it. Attending a few tea parties would let me get my finger on the pulse of high society’s interests, and it would also strengthen my connections. I had no shortage of invitations, even from those in the second prince’s faction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still, I couldn’t be absent from the duchy for too long, so it would be impossible to accept all of them. As such, it was critical to choose my visits with utmost care. I had so little time, so I had to be efficient about where I spent it. Thus I asked my mother’s advice, since she knew far more about the dynamics of high society than I did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps you should call on Baron Messi? And Count Dranbaldt, as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Count Dranbaldt? Ah, that’s right—you’re good friends with his wife, aren’t you?” If I remembered correctly, my mother often visited the Dranbaldt mansion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very. Not only is she wonderfully stylish, but her conversation never fails to amuse.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll take your word for it, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please do. Keep in mind that the Dranbaldts have thus far maintained neutrality, so most of the attendees at their tea parties will be in the same camp. It would be an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about the conflict between the political factions here in the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As always, Mother was right. As such, I decided to accept the Dranbaldts’ invitation as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wonderful. If you’re going there, I’d like to accompany you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, please! Now, what about Baron Messi?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Baron Messi fought with your grandfather back in the Tweil War. He was awarded his title in honor of his military exploits, but as his domain borders Tweil and therefore needs constant protection, he rarely travels outside of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Baron Messi… Ah, you mean Lord Marvelas Messi? I remember Grandfather telling me of him. They were best friends, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, the very best. He was a highly skilled lieutenant—often called your grandfather’s right-hand man, in fact. You know of how their unit fought during the war, yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the time, Tasmeria had not been favored to win, but my grandfather had turned the tide and at last brought victory for our kingdom. Therefore, he had been rewarded with the title of general and was still adored by soldiers and knights alike. I remembered once trying to ask him to tell me all about it a long time ago. He had grown shy and clammed up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm. It’s in the history books, but a number of details were excluded. Still, Lord Messi was granted his title and lands on account of his tremendous service.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… It does sound like a good idea to meet someone like that.” It sounded like a rare opportunity that I couldn’t let slip past.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. Not to mention, Lord Messi is part of the first prince’s faction, so naturally other like-minded people gather at his house.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes me want to meet him all the more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Precisely. If Lord Monroe has the time to throw these special events, he would do well to return to his domain to protect his borders like the baron!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I mentally studied a map of Tasmeria as I listened to my mother. I recalled that Count Monroe and Baron Messi’s domains bordered each other on the northern edge of our kingdom, right next to Tweil. I had to imagine these had been the primary battlegrounds during the war. Both domains primarily produced grains, and to my recollection, the war had started when Tweil sought to take these breadbaskets. Tweil was a barren land while our climate was more or less an eternal spring. That weather, coupled with our fertile fields, made it all too easy for us to grow all manner of crops, hence Tweil’s avarice and aggression.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Furthermore, Count Monroe’s domain was farthest north in our kingdom, so it experienced all four seasons and could therefore grow different crops in each season.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has Lord Monroe really left his domain unattended for so long?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed, he has. In a normal year, he leaves his home right before the start of the social season and stays in the capital for the entirety of it. He spends his time going to parties and holding many of his own as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That made me a little nervous, considering the location of his domain. Tasmeria and Tweil had agreed to a cease-fire, but there was no peace treaty. However, my duchy couldn’t do anything about it, so it was a somewhat pointless worry on my part. I still needed to keep it in mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At any rate, since you don’t have much time, those should be enough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’ll pay a visit to Lord Messi, Lord Dranbaldt, and the Dungleys.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. We’ll go ahead and respond right away. Which is the soonest?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Dungleys, which is the day after tomorrow. However, it is a personal invitation and not a business affair,” the butler responded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Very well then, Iris. We shall begin getting ready tomorrow.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "How long had it been since we had made rounds on the social circuit? Although this time, we had only three stops. The first would be to the Dungleys, and since it was a personal call, there was no need for me to be nervous. Then again, I hadn’t seen Mimosa in so long, so I had to admit I was feeling incredibly anxious.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the Dungleys’ butler let me in, he showed me to the parlor.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s so lovely to see you again, Lady Iris.” Mimosa was already sitting there waiting for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for inviting me today,” I responded as I took a seat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mimosa motioned for all the servants to leave the room except for Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Enough with the formalities. Iris, it really has been ages since I last saw you! I’m so glad to see you’re looking so well.” The stiff atmosphere immediately dissolved, and Mimosa became the old friend I’d known for so long.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mimosa Dungley had been my classmate back at the academy and my best friend. She was a lovely girl with large, sweet eyes and an adorable face. Since I had sharper features, we would have made the ideal woman if you combined the two of us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry I worried you, Mimosa…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You did! I couldn’t believe it. There I was, home sick with a cold, and I heard you’d gotten expelled! How many times did I tell you to be careful of those people?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She really had. Over and over again. She’d told me to stay away from Yuri and not to get involved with her. And yet when I’d seen Yuri approach Edward and flirt with him, I’d taken a stand and suffered the consequences.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I regret it. Trust me, back then I had no idea they were planning such a thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Too true. And normally those boys never would have, but everything changed when they got involved with her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You noticed it, Mimosa?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You were too head over heels for Prince Edward to see! Iris, to be honest with you, I’m afraid of her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Afraid?” I was about to laugh, but the look on Mimosa’s face was so serious that the laughter died in my throat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I saw Yuri at parties, she possessed a childlike naiveté. All I’d thought at the time was that she was just some silly girl.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s difficult to tell what she’s really thinking. She acts like some innocent little thing, but I truly feel as if there’s something else just underneath the surface… Before the prince and his friends met her, they were raised to understand how they ought to comport themselves—and they knew they held positions that would make people want to take advantage of them, so they knew they should be especially cautious of new people. Yet they all fell for her so easily, and now they do everything she says. And she’s so perfect in her role that none of them have realized she’s playing a part… That’s my gut feeling, anyway. Anyone who shows such audacity must have some kind of ulterior motive.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure you aren’t reading too much into this? She’s condemned herself quite a bit with her own words and actions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At this rate, if Yuri kept up her present behavior, she would be the one to suffer. From a social standpoint, at least. At the same time, a part of me couldn’t fully brush off Mimosa’s concerns. For one, it was odd, wasn’t it, that Mimosa had been the only person at the academy to express her misgivings about Yuri? And for another… A second thought popped into my head, but it was so outrageous that I pushed it to the back of my mind for the time being.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe you’re right,” I said. “Let’s change the subject.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mimosa didn’t seem convinced, but she also seemed at a loss for what else she could say to change my mind, so she reluctantly agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do tell me how you’re doing lately, Iris.” She smiled warmly, like she’d flipped a switch on her feelings. Mimosa was so…how could I put it? Feminine, yes, but she also had a wonderfully maternal energy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, there’s not much else to say besides what I told you in my letters,” I said. “I’m running my business and am knee-deep in managing the duchy. That’s about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but I want to hear the details! I mean, it’s wondrous. You have an enormous shop in the capital, and the most popular cafés carry Azuta Corporation products, too. My mother and I both adore the beauty line—and the chocolates as well!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aw, thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And you look even more beautiful than before. Did something nice happen?” Mimosa had a sly look in her eyes as she grinned at me, making me a bit flustered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-nothing in particular. You know I don’t have time for that. How about you, Mimosa? Anything nice happening with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not a thing. Since I wasn’t betrothed to anyone, the plan for after graduation was always that I would stay behind in the capital and begin my domestic training until I found a husband. But it’s not as though I’m going to find a suitable match so quickly, especially in the current climate. So I’ve been a bit bored.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, I see…” That all made sense, especially the last bit. Engagements tied families together. But now the political infighting meant it was difficult to make permanent alliances when greater loyalties might be hidden or prone to change.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine, though. I honestly can’t even picture myself getting married right now. Plus, this is a good chance for me to improve myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, I was sure that Mimosa would have been drowning in proposals, so my heart ached a bit for her. I was sure a number of girls from as yet neutral families were experiencing the same difficulties.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was about to take a bite of the provided treats after a sip of tea when my hands froze. Alongside the scones and sandwiches were chocolates imprinted with a familiar lily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I’m sorry, Iris—those are from your shop. Like I said, I really do adore those chocolates.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s no need to apologize. I’m thrilled that you like them so much. I was actually planning on visiting our boutique here in the capital. Would you like to come with me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The Azuta Corporation boutique?” Mimosa’s eyes sparkled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a little tough having so much going on at the moment, but I won’t be staying in the capital long, so I thought I might as well check in with all our shops while I’m here. Of course, since it’s an official visit, I won’t be going with many people—so if security is a concern for you, I understand.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t bring a whole crowd with me as it would be a business call. But Mimosa’s family might object to her going anywhere without sufficient guards, being the daughter of a noble house and all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How many guards will you bring?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm, I think probably two. I’ll have Lyle and Dida with me—and Tanya, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I think my father will be fine with me joining you if we go with them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He trusts them that much, does he?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. He considers Lyle and Dida the most skilled guards in the entire kingdom. He has utmost trust in them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, if you get your father’s permission, go ahead and send me a letter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. When would you need to know by?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I hate to rush you, but within the week, if you please.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excellent.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, we chatted about our days at school, trends within the capital, and all sorts of things until the sun went down. We had so much fun that the time really did fly by. If Tanya hadn’t said, “My lady, I think it’s time we should be going…” I probably would have stayed there all night.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What were you about to say to Lady Mimosa, my lady?” Tanya suddenly asked me in the carriage on the way home. I shifted my absent gaze from the scenery over to her face.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When you talked about Ms. Yuri. Pardon me for saying so, but it seemed like you were about to say something and then changed your mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You surprise me, Tanya. How observant of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a handmaid’s job to notice everything about her mistress,” she answered promptly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She really was impressive; I’d done my very best not to let my thoughts show on my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a feeling you don’t really think Lady Mimosa is reading too much into things, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right. But…the thought I had was truly preposterous.” I had nothing to base it on. In fact, it was so far removed from reality that I couldn’t even say the words out loud.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I ask you what it is, if you don’t mind?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But perhaps now I could say it. I knew Tanya wouldn’t dare tell a soul. Also, talking it out might enable me to put my thoughts in order.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Remember what I said to Mimosa? About Yuri condemning herself with her actions?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, what about it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, first of all, those charity events. She was criticized for forging ahead with the food drive with the church despite objections from the nobles and ministers, but the citizens viewed it favorably. They thought she was only thinking of them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Based on what my grandfather had told me, the kingdom would not be able to continue those charity events for long. We simply didn’t have the stockpiles. Moreover, we carried a good deal of leftover debt from the war, so instead of lavish spending on charities, we would be better served by tightening our purse strings for the health of our future. At the very least, in my opinion, that money could have been more productively spent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The problem here was that the citizens knew nothing about the kingdom’s financial state. They had no reason to. And since none of them understood the pressures constraining the kingdom’s finances, once we inevitably had to raise taxes to compensate for Yuri’s overspending, their attitude toward the government would worsen. But their opinion of Prince Edward wouldn’t necessarily change.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Based on this, we can say that Yuri’s objective was to get the people on her side,” I said. “And the nobles, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“With the charities?” asked Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. With her actions at the Foundation Day celebration.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“From what I heard, her behavior encouraged some people to withdraw their support from the second prince.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I think that’s true for the most part. But don’t you think it was awfully convenient?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Convenient?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Let’s say I not only wanted to maintain the power I already had; I wanted to expand it and gain even more. In that case, it would be much smarter for me to throw in with the second prince, a known quantity, than the first prince, who is shrouded in mystery. Moreover, the first prince hasn’t been seen in public for over ten years—who knows what kind of person he is or what philosophies he may have? Meanwhile, all Yuri has to do is flatter and build up Prince Edward, and everything goes her way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean he’s easy for her to manipulate?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To put it plainly, yes. And perhaps the reason she conducts herself with such audacity in public is to demonstrate his pliability to the nobles.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Again, I have no proof of this. Perhaps I’m the one reading too much into it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yes, I was beginning to think that was the case. Why would Yuri go to such lengths to do such a thing? If all she wanted was to make Edward king, she could be so much more direct about it. Why go to all the trouble of filling his head with lovey-dovey nonsense; making the royal family seem vulnerable, thus calling over the pack of hyenas (also known as the nobility); and deceiving the citizens with charity scams, thereby creating strife inside the kingdom? Why would she ever choose that strategy over a more straightforward method?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But I still think you should be cautious of her, my lady. Just in case.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I agree. From now on, I’m going to be extremely careful when I conduct business in the capital and when I interact with the royal family. Honestly, I’m quite anxious that the king has fallen ill, now of all times.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had always planned on establishing branches of the Azuta Corporation in each domain rather than focusing too much on the capital anyway. If all went well, we would start exporting to other countries in the near future. Worst-case scenario, I might have to think about pulling the business out of the capital altogether if the situation grew any more chaotic, even if it would hurt my bottom line.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Luckily, I had more business ventures planned that would take place solely inside Armelia. When I’d first spoken with Moneda, we had already decided to cut down on our trade with the capital anyway. Now I would focus on the safety and security of the duchy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If the strife in the capital grew worse, there was no guarantee there wouldn’t be repercussions elsewhere. Luckily, I’d already started some of these discussions, so all I needed to do was iron out more details with Lyle and Dida.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll gather as much information as I can,” Tanya promised.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you, I’d appreciate that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once I got home, I retired directly to my room. I had no plans for the following day, so I decided to explore other places in the capital besides those having to do with my company. Maybe I’d take a trip down memory lane and walk by the academy. I was in a nostalgic mood after my meeting with Mimosa. That night, I fell asleep with those thoughts swirling in my head.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The day came for my visit to Count Dranbaldt. Unlike my personal visit to the Dungleys’, I wouldn’t be the only one calling on the household. I was feeling quite anxious about it.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You needn’t be so fretful, Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My one reassurance was that my mother was coming with me, for which I was endlessly grateful. My next trial would be a solo call on Baron Messi’s house, so this tandem visit would help me ease back into the swing of things.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived at Count Dranbaldt’s mansion and were greeted by all the servants at the entrance. One of them, a man in a tailcoat, showed us to a lush green garden.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome, Your Grace, Lady Iris!” A woman who sat at the center of a round table rose to her feet and greeted us. She was a curvy woman with soft, pale blonde hair that gleamed in the sunlight. I could tell she had a kind, cheerful disposition. Count Dranbaldt’s wife, I presumed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you ever so much for inviting us today, Lady Dranbaldt. My daughter and I were simply counting down the days until we could come!” My mother was on her best behavior. Even though she was a close friend of the countess, since there were others in attendance, she spoke more formally than she normally would have.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m honored to hear you say so, Madam! Please, have a seat.” The countess gave us a gracious smile and gestured toward some empty chairs. The butler in the tailcoat was already on standby.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mother and I took our seats. The garden was impeccably maintained and overflowing with all manner of green foliage. A pastel green cloth was draped over the table, which only enhanced the radiance of our backdrop. What stood out even more than the splendid vegetation were the dresses worn by the other guests. They all wore pastels—light pinks, yellows, and blues. It seemed the countess had chosen flowers as a theme, because although we were in a garden, there weren’t actually any proper flowers to be seen. Now I understood why she had requested we all wear pastels in her invitation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Allow me to introduce you. This is Countess Remedi Caldina.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bowed to the woman seated to the left of Countess Dranbaldt. She slowly inclined her head in response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And this is Countess Dora Dannas.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve been so looking forward to meeting both of you!” The woman seated next to the countess bowed her head as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is Baroness Serena Miness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s an honor to meet you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The countess continued introducing us to her guests in this manner. There were so many of them, I wasn’t sure I could keep their names and faces straight. If only that had been the end of it, but unfortunately, that was only the beginning of the tea party.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Next, we sampled the food and sipped our tea. It was quite good! But I would’ve gotten myself in trouble if I couldn’t keep up with conversation, so I made sure to listen carefully.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The dress you wore the other day was absolutely beautiful, Iris. Wherever did you find it?” Countess Dannas asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was made from fabric we received in a trade with an eastern country. It’ll be a while before we have enough material to sell more apparel, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I see. The fabric was lovely, but the shape of the dress was so new and fresh. Who designed it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hired a tailor in Armelia to make it for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So then, you were the one who designed it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure I’d call myself a designer, but I did give them a rough outline of what kind of shape I wanted.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t tell them I’d chosen the design for comfort over style. Most of the time when I worked, I did so in looser clothes, so I really hadn’t felt like wearing a tight, restrictive corset with an enormously heavy skirt. But since I’d been very clear with the designer from the clothier’s shop, I had been confident that the dress would turn out to be fairly light. But that had been the extent of my input.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. I’m positive that dress will start the next fashion trend, though. Don’t you think, Lady Remidi?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite. It was the talk of the party. I’m sure the capital’s tailors are already inundated with requests.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Countess Caldina’s assertion puzzled me. Was that true? Could this be an opportunity for Armelia’s tailors, then? I wondered this to myself as someone else changed the subject. The topic had turned to the latest fads and the news from everyone’s households. The conversation especially centered around the hostess, Countess Dranbaldt, and my mother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, the countess proved a skilled hostess who included everyone in the conversation and never let the attention linger on herself for too long. She set a relaxed, comfortable mood. My mother, meanwhile, helped keep that mood sufficiently bright while still respecting the hostess’s role and never overstepping her boundaries.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, I’ve heard rumors that House Monroe has enjoyed a recent increase in prosperity. Does anyone know what their new ventures might be?” Countess Caldina asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My ears perked up at this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That reminds me,” she went on, “the Monroes have been hosting so many parties as of late. At one, the countess will wear a striking diamond necklace, then at the next, she’ll have an even larger emerald necklace—with matching earrings! When the jeweler visited my house, I asked him about it, and he told me Count Monroe has been commissioning an incredible number of pieces. I also hear he’s been frequenting the Azuta Corporation’s boutique.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Everyone turned their eyes to me. I had no choice but to answer. “I’m largely involved in the management of the corporation, and my staff takes care of our clients, so I can’t speak to that… But that does sound amazing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I really only looked at the overall sales. I let Sei and my other staff manage our clientele, so honestly I had no idea how much any given household spent on our products. But even if I had, I wouldn’t have told them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although, if what Countess Caldina said was true, how had Count Monroe come into such sudden wealth? Had he always been so blessed? No, it couldn’t be so—his domain was still largely known only for its grain production. I certainly hadn’t heard of any new businesses on his part.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really?” said the countess. “It was the talk of the party the other night.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so envious. Speaking of jewels, Lady Dora. Where did you get the one you wore to Foundation Day? It was gorgeous. I simply couldn’t take my eyes off of it,” my mother exclaimed, steering the conversation in a new direction. I would’ve liked to hear more about the Monroes, but perhaps this was a good stopping point.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seriously though, my mother truly was remarkable—she was profoundly skilled at feeling out the mood of a party.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, that was a topaz! The red was just so beautiful, I was immediately drawn to it and begged my husband to get it for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Answering his wife’s requests is a good way for a man to show he’s a provider,” Countess Dranbaldt declared. “Was Lord Dannas pleased?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Honestly, I wasn’t sure I agreed with this opinion, but I decided to keep that to myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In my past life, I hadn’t been married, and even though I’d been engaged in this world, Prince Edward had never given me a present—if I’d asked him to go shopping with me, he had always acted like it was a tremendous burden. Essentially, he had shown absolutely no interest in me even before Yuri came on the scene.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I think I’d heard somewhere before that the opposite of love was indifference, but now that he hated me for everything that had happened between me and Yuri, perhaps I’d graduated from persona non grata? Or perhaps not.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, my husband knows nothing about jewels,” said Countess Dannas.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe not, but surely once he saw you wearing it, he fell in love with you all over again! Isn’t that right, Lady Merellis?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, you’re so lovely and youthful, Lady Dora. I’m sure your husband could hardly contain himself during the party once he laid eyes on you!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The ladies let out squeals and laughter at my mother’s suggestion. Now the conversation turned to this or that handsome noble, and the ladies who had daughters discussed who they’d love to see them marry. Since I had nothing to contribute to the conversation, I just listened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did wonder a bit who my mother would like to see me marry. Although after the whole disaster with the prince, I probably had no prospects to speak of. She certainly didn’t say anything during this conversation, perhaps out of respect for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you think, Iris?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Countess Caldina’s question snapped me back to reality. Uh-oh. I shouldn’t have spaced out like that. “I’m sorry, my mind was wandering. What was the question?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“About your future husband. I was wondering what kind of person you would like to marry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, as you all know, my engagement was broken. I was just thinking about quietly spending the rest of my days in the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My only dreams for the future involved helping less fortunate children. And, well, I was actually quite looking forward to it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Surely you jest, Iris! As the daughter of Duke Armelia, as well as the acting governor and owner of a major corporation, you have a wonderful resume. Not to mention, the queen dowager is quite fond of you. You could have your pick of whomever you chose!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think so?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes! If only my house’s status were higher, I would be beyond thrilled to join our families!” Countess Caldina let out a disappointed sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Countess Dranbaldt nodded in agreement. I had to admit I was surprised; I’d had no idea I was seen in that light. Still, I really hadn’t given any thought to the prospect of marriage, let alone who I might wed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The party continued until the sun was just beginning to set. I’d been nervous at first, but now that it was over, I realized I’d quite enjoyed myself. I was sure that was greatly due to Countess Dranbaldt’s stunning ability to make every guest feel special. I’d never hosted a party before, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the occasion to, but if I did, I hoped I’d be even half as gracious as she was. Perhaps I could dip my toe in the water by starting to have small get-togethers like my mother did?",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The following day, I planned to visit my shops in the capital. I was very much looking forward to it, especially since Mimosa had written saying she’d received permission to come.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, it’s almost time to meet Lady Mimosa,” Tanya said just as I was wrapping up some paperwork.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, is it that time already? I’m almost done reading this letter. Just show her in once she gets here, would you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure?” Tanya asked me with concern. There were a number of confidential documents spread across my desk concerning matters important to the duchy and to the management of my company. That was probably what she was worried about.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mimosa’s a friend. Don’t worry.” At any rate, I didn’t have any of the truly sensitive documents out on my desk now, and the letter in my hands was from Dean. I had nothing to hide. But even if I had, I knew that Mimosa wouldn’t do anything untoward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean had occasionally sent me letters since my arrival in the capital. I doubted he was still in the duchy, as his contract with me was complete. However, he’d lingered in Armelia for a few days after my departure, so his letters were filled with news about the local businesses—and other musings and opinions he wanted to share with me. Reading his thoughts always inspired me with new ideas, so I relished the opportunity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time, he suggested setting up a program for the next level of education that would be more akin to a trade school rather than an academic-oriented extension of the topics taught at the elementary school. I did think that sounded like a good idea, but I wasn’t convinced we needed to attach such a program to the schools. Our tradesmen already took in apprentices to whom they taught everything they needed to know.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, Dean ended this particular letter with “Don’t overwork yourself.” It warmed my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Mimosa has arrived.” There was a knock at the door, and Tanya entered with my friend and her two bodyguards.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning, Mimosa. Sorry I couldn’t greet you downstairs.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine. Oh, my…did something nice happen?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean?” I gave her a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That letter. That dreamy expression on your face. Is it from a suitor?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!” Mimosa’s suggestion left me speechless. Dreamy?! Surely she’d just misinterpreted my face in deep thought. I was pondering the state of the duchy, of course. “Absolutely not! This letter pertains to business back home, that’s all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm, really? I thought for certain a new love had come into your life.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Mimosa. I don’t have time for something as frivolous as love.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A sad look crossed her face. “I’m sorry if the way I worded it offended you. But Iris, I really don’t want to hear you calling love frivolous.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mimosa…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Back at the academy, when you were in love with Prince Edward, you were simply glowing. I know it didn’t end well, and I know you’re terribly busy these days, but speaking as your old friend, I think it’s awfully sad that you think you have no need for love. That you look down upon it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…” I had to admit that Mimosa had summed up my opinion on the matter; love just felt so silly. I really did think it unnecessary, at least in my life. Perhaps you could say I was no longer a dreamer. But who could blame me after what I’d lived through? I just wasn’t the sort of person who could really believe in love, not anymore. Instead, I kept myself eternally occupied, and I’d become content with the way I now lived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s because of what happened to you that I want you to find happiness,” Mimosa went on. “I’m not telling you to drop everything for love. But at least open yourself up to the possibility of it. Don’t deny the person you were back then just because she had a bad experience.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mimosa…” Her kind words touched my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry. It’s probably not my place to say. Anyway, you look lovely today,” she said, swiftly changing the subject. She no doubt wanted to lighten the mood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So do you.” I let out a relieved sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since Mimosa would be going out to town with me today incognito, she wore a more understated outfit than she normally would have. She looked more like a merchant’s daughter than a noble, I supposed you could say. As did I.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I’m wearing these clothes, make sure to call me Alice,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? What are you talking about?” Mimosa frowned curiously.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s an alias! You can’t just go around flinging my name about town. And you know what they say—feeling is doing. Just going by a different name will make you feel completely different.” Personally, it made me feel like an actress. Being called by another name really got me into the part, so to speak.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ooh, I get it. I’ll go by Misha, then!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right then, Misha. Let’s go. Oh, first let me introduce you—you know Tanya, of course, but these are my bodyguards, Lyle and Dida.” I gestured to the two of them, waiting behind me, and they bowed to her. I expected that from Lyle, but Dida was usually so aloof that I was surprised to see him behave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s nice to meet you… Although I’ve heard so much about both of you that I feel as if I already know you! These are my bodyguards, Harry and Dan.” Her two bodyguards bowed to me in turn.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” I greeted them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Both Harry and Dan looked exactly like what I pictured when I thought of proper bodyguards. They had a stern, sharp edge about them. Luckily, they were dressed in plain clothes so they wouldn’t stand out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, we don’t have much time. Shall we go?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "First, we intended to visit my café. We would sample the chocolates, snacks, and other desserts that the corporation was selling there. Oh, and the herbal tea, which was another strong seller in the capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From the moment we arrived, I could tell things were looking prosperous indeed. There was a long line of people waiting to be seated. I’d made sure to keep the prices affordable, so quite a number of regular townspeople were in the mix.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, shall we get in line?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me, my lady. But shouldn’t you mention your name so you can go inside quickly?” Tanya suggested. Everyone looked at me questioningly, evidently wondering the same thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I do that, then there’s no point in having come incognito. I want to see how they treat the customers. I’ve planned to spend the whole day doing these visits, so I don’t mind waiting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please excuse me for speaking out of turn, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So for that reason, Misha, we’ll be walking and standing around waiting a lot today.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That sounds fine to me! It’ll just help work up an appetite for later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wonderful.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We ended up waiting for quite a while before we got inside. The café was divided up into two spaces, one side for takeout orders and the other for dining in. It occurred to me that we might want to construct a separate building just to handle the takeout. That would cut down on the number of people waiting to come in, and we would still have plenty of space to work with. I was sure some people would want to take leftover food home as well. Or would it be better to invest in a larger space and keep the two operations combined? Or perhaps two entirely separate buildings? Hm, I couldn’t decide.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome. How many today?” asked the host.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seven.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so sorry, but none of our tables for large parties are currently available. But if you don’t mind being seated at two different tables…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We had no choice, so we went with that. The tables were fairly close, so I shared a table with Mimosa, Lyle, and Tanya, while the other had Dida, Harry, and Dan.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At first, Tanya wanted to sit at the other table for more of a balance, but then she decided she didn’t want to be apart from me. Then Mimosa offered to switch places with Harry. I worried that wasn’t a proper positioning for her bodyguards, but Mimosa assured me she felt safe with Lyle and Dida. Apparently, she really trusted my bodyguards.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I chose the cake and Mimosa selected the assorted fruits with chocolate sauce. After we ordered, we could only wait for our food to arrive, so Mimosa and I chatted to pass the time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The process at the café began when a waitress wrote your order on paper and then sent the order to the kitchen. After your meal, you took the number written on your ticket up to the counter to pay. Each table was assigned a different number, marked with a wooden plate. The top of the plate was stained wood, and the bottom was unvarnished. Once you received your orders, you flipped the plate over to the unvarnished side, though if you wanted to purchase something else, you could flip it back over to the stained side. Obviously, any additional purchases would be added to your check before you went to pay.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The calculations at the counter were difficult to process quickly, so I’d introduced the use of an abacus. I was deeply grateful for my previous life in Japan, where I’d learned to use an abacus in elementary school. At first, the staff was a bit bewildered, but they soon caught on and had grown accustomed to it. They were quite grateful and said their work went much faster now. It made me consider introducing the abacus into the mandatory curriculum for Armelia’s elementary school, too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I absently thought about those things while I chatted with Mimosa, and before long, our orders arrived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ooh, that looks so good!” Mimosa exclaimed happily and dug in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d already sampled all the dishes before, either through the cook here or through Merida, so none of the flavors were new to me. Still, it did feel different eating the dish out at a café instead of at home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm, it is good!” Mimosa nodded with satisfaction. She seemed so happy, you’d think it was her café.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m glad you like it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though the staff was busy, they didn’t lack in customer service, and all our food came exactly as we ordered it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was utterly pleased to see them working so hard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why did you want to open a café?” Mimosa asked me. I noticed her plate was already clean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t really have any particular reason. We just happen to have excellent ingredients in Armelia, that’s all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s still an accomplishment to turn it into such a success, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, in my case, I’m blessed to be surrounded by talented people.” I had a privileged upbringing and had enjoyed the help of Tanya and the others since childhood. I really was fortunate. “Well, should we get going?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d finished my food while we were talking, so we paid the bill and took our leave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Next, let’s stop by the beauty shop. I’d like to take our time getting there, though. Just to get a look around the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The café and the beauty shop were a bit far from each other, which meant a good deal of walking. I also wanted to investigate any shops that caught my eye on the way and take note of the local price points.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm?” I paused for a moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Alice?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought I saw Yuri…” For a second, I could have sworn I saw her, but then I lost her in the crowd. Normally, she was surrounded by such a crowd of people that it was easy to spot her anywhere, but this time, it had been only her and two others.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure you didn’t mistake someone else for her? There’s no way she would go out in town by herself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe it was because Tanya and I had been talking about Yuri before Mimosa showed up. I just couldn’t get that girl out of my brain. I pushed the thought aside as we continued making our way to our next stop.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When we arrived at the beauty shop, we encountered another line to get in, just like at the café. Once we made it to the front, we went inside and perused the wares. Mimosa kept saying how she wanted this or that, but I persuaded her to wait, since we were going to the members-only boutique next. As only nobles were allowed in that shop, we would have no choice but to reveal both of our identities once we reached it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though each customer had a private room at the boutique, there was still a chance we would run into someone we knew inside the building. Each customer was allowed to bring two attendants to accompany them, so I brought Tanya and Lyle, and Mimosa brought her two bodyguards.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d had to place a limit on guests because some nobles had wanted to bring their whole entourage of handmaids and bodyguards, which would have led to a crowded and unpleasant shopping experience. For that reason, I had installed a waiting room near the entrance for the excess members of an entourage. However, Dida didn’t want to wait there and said that instead he would stand guard at the entrance and survey the perimeter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The members-only boutique was located in an area of the capital where nobles liked to own second residences. I had purchased an entire mansion complete with a garden for the establishment, so from the moment we entered the property, it took some time to actually get inside. First, we showed proof of our memberships and then admired the lush greenery of the garden as we walked up to the mansion. At the door, we were greeted by a butler, who once again requested we prove our membership. From there, we were led to separate private rooms to be waited on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome, Lady Iris.” The butler maintained perfect professional composure when he saw me. His name was Barret, and he had been previously employed as a butler for a merchant family before he began working for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Aren’t you surprised to see me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew you were coming to the capital, so I assumed you would visit at some point, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm, so you must have prepared in advance for my arrival. Now I won’t get to see the true state of things!” I said jokingly, to which Barret smirked. He seemed like such a good-natured old man that this smile was especially intimidating.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid not, Lady Iris. The nobility visit this establishment every day, so all things must be perfect at all times. We cannot afford even the slightest slip-up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, I can’t wait to see the inside. I’d also love to talk with you for a bit, so please go ahead and show Mimosa to her room.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. This way, please, Lady Mimosa.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll be waiting over there, Barret. Come find me when you’re done.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I said farewell to Mimosa and went to a room near the entrance. This particular room was currently empty; the mansion was so large that it had many rooms just like it. The private customer suites were all on the second floor. There, a staff member waited on the client and brought them the products they requested or suggested new ones to try.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first floor was mainly composed of storage rooms and rest areas for the staff members. If business picked up a bit more, some of those would likely be converted into more customer suites to ensure it never got too crowded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome!” said a voice near the entrance. Another customer had arrived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a guest with me today.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I opened my door slightly to peek out and saw Barret greeting the guest. Wasn’t that Count Monroe? The man had a stout frame and blond curls that fell over his forehead. I’d have recognized him anywhere, especially as everyone had been talking about him as of late. I glanced to his side to see his guest. I had thought it might be his wife, or one of his children, but I didn’t recognize the person with him. If it had been a woman, I would’ve assumed it was his mistress, but it was a completely ordinary-looking man. But he’d said guest, so the fellow couldn’t be a servant or a bodyguard. Who in the world had the count brought?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But before I could find out, the two vanished upstairs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Terribly sorry to keep you waiting, Lady Iris.” A knock at the door tore me away from my curiosity as Barret entered the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not to worry. More importantly, Barret, does Lord Monroe come here often?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, he does. At least once or twice a week.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was often. I couldn’t deny it was good for our business, of course.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What kinds of things does he purchase?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mostly sweets. Lately he’s been fond of the eau de cologne. He usually brings his wife or son.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sounded pretty normal to me. However, the price points at this members-only boutique were steep, though I supposed it would depend on how much he was purchasing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What interests his wife and son?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His wife prefers the beauty products, of course. She always asks for recommendations. His son buys chocolate, just as the count does. They’re devoted customers, so every time they visit, it takes quite a while to pack up their carriage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That really was devoted. Although how were they using up so much product between just the three of them? I wondered until I remembered the ladies telling me Count Monroe often threw parties. That would explain it. More importantly, where was he getting the money to buy all these luxury goods?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris?” Barret gave me a curious look. I’d fallen silent in thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t have anything terribly important to talk to you about. I just wanted to check in to see if you were having any difficulties that I could help solve. I’ve been reading the reports you send to me regularly, of course.” As I was here on business, I’d thought I might as well check in with the staff, after all. Plus, since they were dealing with the nobility, I figured they must have run into some unreasonable requests or something of that nature.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that right? Well, I can’t think of any problems at present. The only thing that really comes to mind is that it would be helpful if we had more staff members.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More staff members, I see. Where would you need them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We are especially in need of more cooks. Increasingly often, customers are ordering food to eat on the premises.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. The only problem there is how long it takes to properly train our cooks, so if we take on new hires, it will be some time to get them up to speed. I’ll see to it immediately, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. Also…it would help greatly if we could have more trained employees.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Trained how, exactly?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, people who have experience serving noble families. As you know, our customer base is made up exclusively of the aristocracy. They expect the staff to conduct themselves in a certain manner. Moreover, the reason we are able to keep memberships exclusive is partially because we offer exemplary customer service.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d started the members-only boutique specifically to make it feel like a premier service. But now everyone seemed to be waiting for a membership. Some customers had asked us to hire more staff so we could add more members sooner, but Barret had been firmly opposed to that idea. This request came from a different place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hm, so he wanted to hire people who had experience serving nobles… It was rare for those people to leave a family’s service once they started, and even if we did find someone, it would be difficult to hire them right away. We couldn’t have a family with a grudge against House Armelia sending one of their servants into our employ as a spy, so we would have to conduct thorough background checks on any such applicant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ah, that reminded me of the idea I’d had about the trade school while I read Dean’s letter. Instead of using the duchy’s money to fund it, I could use profits from the Azuta Corporation to establish a private school to serve a similar purpose. It would benefit the company and would be a good way to expand our employee base.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks. This information is all very helpful. I won’t be able to solve these problems immediately, but I’ll brainstorm and start working on a plan. Would you show me to my room? I’d like to experience the boutique from a customer’s perspective.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. Right this way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, I enjoyed everything the boutique had to offer and didn’t have any particular complaints. The visit went smoothly, and I got ready to leave. However, Mimosa took an awfully long time, so I found myself waiting for her. She had a tremendously satisfied look on her face when she at last emerged, so I suspected she had made some excellent purchases, although I didn’t ask her about the specifics.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the end of my tour of my ventures in the capital. I was a bit sad to think my stay here was about to come to an end, but at the same time, I was eager to return home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you so much for today, Alice.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. Thank you for accompanying me, Misha.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I returned to the mansion with a mixture of different emotions swirling inside of me.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was to leave the capital soon, but before that came my visit to Baron Messi’s mansion. According to my Mother, the baron was always one of the first nobles to return to his domain toward the end of the social season, and he would often go even before the final soirees. And so he was holding one last dance before his departure. A goodbye party, if you will.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As the members of the first prince’s faction tended to be more diligent about managing their domains, they rarely had the opportunity to gather together all at once. Consequently, attendance was high at parties held in the middle of the season like this one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to admit, I wondered if I would be out of place. I did some morning yoga to try to center myself. Mother, who was now an avid yoga fan, wore matching clothes and joined in with me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My, Iris. Your face looks so tight. You’ll exhaust yourself before you even leave for the day.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do I look that tense?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You do. You stretch out and relax your body, so you should try to relax your face as well. Yes, that’s right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After our yoga session, I took a shower and changed clothes. The party wasn’t until later that evening, so I put on a comfortable outfit for now. Since I had time, I looked over the reports Sei and Sebastian had sent me, then quickly sent off instructions for them. This experience had taught me how important it was to be present in the duchy. It took time for their letters to arrive, so the situations they reported might well have changed by the time they reached me. It all made me realize I shouldn’t let my sentimentality get in the way. I needed to go home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was looking over more paperwork when there was a knock on the door and Tanya entered. “It’s time to prepare for the party, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Already? Time flew by when I focused on work. But I didn’t want to be late, so I put away my papers and started getting ready.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since the party was at night, I would be wearing a more formal dress for the occasion. I still didn’t like wearing those heavy skirts though, so I chose another lighter, streamlined design. I put on my jewelry while Tanya did up my hair. My dress today was a lapis lazuli blue to complement my eyes. Since my hair was platinum white, diamonds didn’t stand out much against it, so I decided on some deep blue sapphires. That made the silver embroidery on my dress really pop.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It took me quite some time to finish. They always say it takes a woman forever to put herself together, but it was always longer when one of these dresses was involved. First of all, it was impossible to put one on without someone’s help.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last, I got in the carriage, and we set off for the baron’s house. Oof, I’m so nervous…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since I was already in the district where most of the nobles lived, it didn’t take very long at all to reach Baron Messi’s mansion. Unfortunately, I was so nervous that the trip felt far longer than, it really was. I was shaking with nerves by the time we arrived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Baron Messi himself greeted me at the door and invited me inside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for inviting me tonight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course! I’m so pleased you could come.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Baron Messi had a strong, sturdy frame, just as you’d expect of someone who had served in the military. Yet his every gesture was so elegant, I couldn’t detect a trace of coarseness. He struck me as a perfectly lovely silver-haired old gentleman.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Grandfather was so disappointed he couldn’t make it tonight.” He’d wanted to come, but he had a prior engagement. He said he couldn’t tell me details, but he was extremely disappointed. That didn’t surprise me, since he had such an intimate connection with Baron Messi.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry to see he couldn’t make it as well. Please do tell him I hope he can come another time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that I had exchanged pleasantries with the host, I looked around the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Goodness. How impressive. That was my first thought. The party was filled with prominent people—nobles who had either earned their land and titles through some sort of meritorious deed or for possessing an exceptional skill, like gifted artistry. I’d heard of many of these individuals through my father’s work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris! It’s so wonderful to see you again.” I spied Count Sagitalia, the minister of finance. In plain terms, he was my father’s subordinate, so I had met him before. If I recalled correctly, the queen dowager had selected him for the position back during her reign. He seemed like a mild-mannered old gentleman now, but word had it that back at the palace, he was quite eccentric and difficult to deal with, although he didn’t look it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t know you would be here, Lord Sagitalia!” By which I meant: I was surprised that someone with such an important position would back a prince no one knew anything about.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have no business putting my nose in the affairs of the royal family,” the count said. Even though I hadn’t said it plainly, he had gotten the message. He had to be that savvy, as such an influential person. He held the kingdom’s purse strings, after all. His word carried a great deal of weight. “But which one is best for our kingdom? Best for the people? I should think all we ministers are weighing such questions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. So you think he’ll be the best one for our kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Count Sagitalia’s grin only deepened. “Now then, Lady Iris, your dress is absolutely exquisite.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My thanks.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you also acquire it from a trade with the east?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I just ordered this one from a clothier in my duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I see! It sounds like Armelia is brimming with gifted people! It has a most enviable position with that sea border. That in and of itself makes your domain prosperous, what with your ability to purify salt and trade with other countries. It seems you’re doing quite well with the latter as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, well. It’s all thanks to our people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was impressed with Count Sagitalia; it was clear he knew all the ins and outs of my domain, even if it wasn’t his own.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re too humble! I’ve heard much of Armelia’s recent success is due to your leadership.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I merely smiled at his response. Honestly, I was kind of speechless. Although I was flattered, I wasn’t too keen on him pressing me for too many details.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve heard a great deal about your accomplishments—overhauling the tax system, helping orphans, undertaking measures to strengthen the duchy’s defenses. I have to wonder what your ultimate goal might be.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In short, he was asking me if I was trading with other countries and doing business with other domains to gain capital in order to build up Armelia’s armed forces. Now that I thought about it, everything I did could very well lead to such a goal. I couldn’t fault him for looking at my projects and growing suspicious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My ultimate goal… I suppose I haven’t laid my finger on that just yet,” I answered. Count Sagitalia gave me a puzzled look, so I continued. “I am the acting governor. As such, it’s my responsibility to guarantee the safety and well-being of my citizens. That’s my goal. Or I suppose you could say, that’s the ideal I strive for. The question is, how close can I get to attaining that ideal? Perhaps it’s something I will have to continually work for and never achieve? Therefore, I have no ‘ultimate goal,’ as it were.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well, I’m quite impressed. A government for the people… Even though you’re so young, you’re already committed to your role as a public servant. But I’d caution you to act with care; those with more suspicious hearts might interpret your hard work as an open challenge to the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thank you for the warning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Despite my personal feelings, House Armelia had sworn fealty to the royal family. Neither my parents nor my grandfather had any intention of defying them. But my greater responsibility was to keep my people safe. Obviously, part of that meant planning for the possibility of having to protect them from the royal family. These were last-resort measures, of course, ones I would never truly want to take. But that choice was always in the back of my head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not that I would ever admit as much out loud.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Prince Alfred speaks highly of you as well,” said the count. “He’s said he would like to take several policies you’ve enacted in Armelia and make them the new standard across the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, he has?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t seem surprised.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard he’s in the country. Naturally, I assumed he was in contact with the prominent members of his faction.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The people at this party were a well-known, talented bunch, but there were definitely some unique characters sprinkled in among them. That meant they would need a strong leader to keep them all in line. It was probably quite difficult to be the lead representative of this group.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In any case, if the people here support him, then I assume they’ve told him all about Armelia’s status.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Count Sagitalia wasn’t the only minister in attendance. And if all these ministers were loyal to Prince Alfred, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that he could already carry out a certain amount of his political agenda.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m honored that he thinks so highly of my duchy and the way I’ve been running it. Although, I’m not sure all my policies would be as successful across the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been able to revolutionize so many systems in Armelia to the extent that I had because I was the one in charge. The reach of a governor’s powers in Tasmeria was substantial, to the say the least. If the royal family tried to enforce my policies in every other domain, I had a feeling they would be met with significant resistance from more than one governor. It would take a great deal of time and effort for things to smooth out in that regard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m confident the prince could succeed. He can change our systems and build the one true kingdom.” Count Sagitalia said this with a smile, as if reading my thoughts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But the last thing he said nagged at me. The one true kingdom? He had a mischievous grin on his face, like that of a child. Almost like he really could see into my mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A governor’s powers in this kingdom were indeed very strong. Generally, each domain operated like its own state, all of them together composing our country, the kingdom of Tasmeria. The governors were given free rein to determine tax rates and other laws within their domains, so long as they didn’t break any national edicts. That was why I had been afforded so much freedom. The only exception was the capital, which fell under direct control of the monarchy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So when the count said “change our systems,” what systems did he mean? In other words, did the first prince intend to strengthen the power of the monarchy? That would weaken the governors’ powers and return their influence to the royal family. That, in turn, would make it easier for the kingdom to implement whatever new policies they desired.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But it was all too easy to imagine what pushback they would receive for suggesting such a change. Could it really be done? Moreover, why was Count Sagitalia telling me this? Just because I was attending the baron’s party didn’t mean I was committed to the first prince’s faction. All these thoughts led me back to the exchange we’d just had. “I have to wonder what your ultimate goal might be.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Was this why he’d asked? What if—and I thought this unlikely, but—what if he was asking me, “What would you do if he could successfully change those systems?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Would I rebel against Prince Alfred and try to declare Armelia’s independence? Or would I cede my power to the kingdom? He wasn’t trying to find out what my father would do either. Instead, he was asking me, the person actually running Armelia as the acting governor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’ve never met the prince, so I’m not sure what kind of person he is,” I said. “So honestly, I can’t say. But if he were successful, and if his changes benefited the citizens, then I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What I told the count was true—since I’d never met Prince Alfred, I couldn’t offer a real opinion on the matter. And I certainly couldn’t declare my support—or lack thereof.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that right? Very interesting, indeed. So much so, in fact, that I would love to see you standing by his side one day.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my! Surely you jest, my lord. I couldn’t possibly be by the prince’s side—that would be most improper.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me. Perhaps I teased you too much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the count and I parted ways, I spoke with several other people and then sat in a chair on the edge of the room to rest. The mansion really was packed with impressive individuals. I’d been so on guard when I spoke with the count that I was exhausted. I took a sip of my drink and spotted the host of the party, Baron Messi, approaching me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you think of the party?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m enjoying myself very much.” I answered, plastering a smile on my face. If I wasn’t careful, my fatigue would show. “By the way, Lord Messi, may I ask you a question?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why do you return to your domain so early in the social season? Everyone here—besides the ministers, who work at the palace all the time regardless—stays in the capital until the end. Honestly, that surprised me; I assumed they would be returning home just like you do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I was worried I was prying, but the baron readily answered me. “It’s because of the duty that was entrusted to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your duty?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Has your grandfather told you about the Tweil War?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course. But nothing more than what’s been written in the textbooks.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s more than enough. As I’m sure you’ve heard, I fought under your grandfather’s command during the war. And I was awarded my title and lands for my service.” A faraway look rose in the baron’s eyes as he spoke. “But at the end of the day, I’m a military man. A title hasn’t changed that. And the war isn’t over. As someone whose domain is on the kingdom’s border, I simply can’t leave it unattended.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was true, but something still didn’t add up for me. Even though both Baron Messi and Count Monroe had land on the borders, it was obvious that the former was far more cautious. And it did seem like he was going home awfully soon. He was required to attend the Foundation Day celebration in an official capacity as a governor, but I heard he had arrived right before the party began, and now he was leaving straight away. The only reasonable explanation I could conceive was that he anticipated war would soon start up again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As such, I’m always in a war frame of mind, if you will. I can’t reassure you and claim there’s nothing to worry about. I will only ask you to please be on your guard. I don’t expect fighting imminently, but I’m sure Tweil still has its sights on our kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because of our abundant grain and other resources?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, and because they still hold a grudge from the war, even after thirty years.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The war.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Armelia was on the opposite side of the kingdom from the border with Tweil, and that border was quite far away. But that didn’t mean I could let down my guard. If fighting broke out, every domain would feel the burden.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for the warning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me for bringing up such a serious topic during a party. I’ll excuse myself now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please don’t apologize. It was extremely valuable information. I appreciate it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stayed for a little longer, then decided to go home. I’d made several new acquaintances and gained a great deal of information.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I returned home, I went to bed and slept most soundly. I’d done everything I had planned to do in the capital. Now the only thing left was to pay a visit to my father and finally go home.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was working in my study the next morning when Tanya came in. “What is it, Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There are two things I need to speak with you about.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve looked into Ms. Yuri since we spoke last. I’m not finished, but I did discover some things I thought you should know right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. Go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The first is about her upbringing. I thought that her mother had only ever worked for House Neuer, but I was mistaken.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? I thought she began a relationship with Baron Neuer while she was in his service? Where did she work before, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The royal palace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The palace? What did she do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She was a handmaid. I’m not sure how she met the baron, but she went to work for him after she resigned from her post there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That must be where they met, then. Nobles often have occasion to go, I suppose.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was certainly possible they had met at the palace. But how in the world had they gone from baron and handmaid to an intimate relationship? I mean, it happened, but I just wasn’t sure these things just happened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I asked people who knew her at the time, and her coworkers remember her well for her beauty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course. She was the protagonist’s mother, after all. And since Yuri was the protagonist, naturally, her mother was beautiful as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s harder to find information about her life once her mother left the baron. There are traceable accounts from when her mother was still alive, but I’m having trouble finding where Ms. Yuri was and what she did once she was alone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And that seems unusual, since she’s so striking—and she was by herself. Is there something else?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“While her mother was alive, one of her neighbors recalls saying, ‘It must be tough raising a child all on your own. Is there anyone supporting you?’ and the mother said there was not. But immediately after she passed away, a man appeared claiming to be Ms. Yuri’s blood relative.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Was that Baron Neuer?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unclear.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have a description of them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I asked the neighbor for one. The man had no characteristics that stood out. The only thing anyone can be certain of was that he was indeed a man.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So Yuri’s mother had received no support in raising her, yet a man had shown up saying he was her blood relative? Right after the woman passed away? Two possibilities immediately rose to mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One, that Yuri’s mother had cut ties with her family for some reason, and because of that reason, she had been unable to depend on them for help—but after she died, the family had decided to take care of Yuri. If that theory was true, then we had to establish where her mother was from.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two, that Baron Neuer himself had come incognito to take Yuri away with him, or that he had sent someone from his house. That seemed the more likely answer, but if that was true, why hadn’t he publicly acknowledged Yuri until she entered the academy?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Either way, both stories left me with more questions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That reminds me: How did Baron Neuer know Yuri was his daughter? There’s no way to prove such a thing, after all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He recognized her from the pendant her mother gave her. But apparently Ms. Yuri is also the spitting image of her late mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Obviously, there was no DNA or paternity testing in this world, so it was no wonder that they would have to rely on circumstantial evidence like that. However, there also wasn’t plastic surgery or any other way to alter one’s face, so people put a lot of weight on physical resemblance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And he searched for them for more than a decade? Baron Neuer must have really loved her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That I haven’t been able to confirm. I have some more digging to do. But at present, that’s all I know about the baron’s daughter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, thank you, and good luck with the rest of your search. What was the second thing you wanted to tell me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You asked me to look into Lord Monroe.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, yes. That.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After I’d seen Count Monroe at the Azuta Corporation’s members-only boutique, he’d piqued my interest, so I’d asked Tanya to do a bit of an investigation. I told her what I’d heard about him at the tea party and described the man I’d seen him with.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The man who accompanied Lord Monroe that day is called Divan. He’s staying at Lord Monroe’s mansion as a guest and often goes out to town with him. I checked with the Azuta Corporation, and many employees have confirmed those details.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s a guest? I wonder where he’s from.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Divan is the head of the Ayler Corporation. I looked into it as well, and it’s registered with the merchant guild. Their business mainly deals with food products. However, I couldn’t find out any further details about their clients.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That doesn’t surprise me. That kind of thing is usually kept confidential. But if the count’s so close with the head of a corporation, perhaps that’s where all this extra money is coming from?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t think of any other reason. Count Monroe’s domain was largely known for its agriculture, and the Ayler Corporation dealt in food. So perhaps Divan had invested in the count’s land and they’d made some kind of deal? But where were they selling all this food?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya. I want you to look into this Divan right away. The Ayler Corporation, too. I want to know where they’re selling their goods and for how much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had a bad feeling about all this. The situation was changing at a dizzying pace, especially considering what I’d learned at the baron’s party. I had been a bit concerned that I was cooped up in my domain, but now that I’d come to the capital, I realized just how sheltered I’d truly been in Armelia. I still wanted to go home immediately. But I couldn’t simply let this matter go. Something important was going on that I didn’t know about. I was certain of it.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did we have to come, too?” Dida sighed.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle frowned at him. “We had to, Dida. Master Gazell ordered us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, but we have nothing to do with today’s training.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They were observing a joint training session between the military and the royal knights. As Dida said, it had absolutely nothing to do with them, but their master, General Gazell, had made them come.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At first, they had declined. Iris was attending a party at Baron Messi’s mansion and they intended to accompany her as her bodyguards. However, they had been overruled by Iris, Lady Merellis, and Lord Louis. Lyle and Dida relented when Iris agreed to bring guards who had been trained not only by themselves but by General Gazell. Also, if something did break bad, she would have Tanya with her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What was Tanya up to these days? Lately, it seemed like Dida wasn’t the only one wondering.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Putting that aside, he sincerely wished he could have been with Iris at a party in her fancy dress rather than hanging around with this gang of sweaty men.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We might not be involved, but it’s to our advantage to know the strength of the soldiers and the knights. Don’t waste this opportunity.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s all well and good, but I don’t get why he had to call us here now, of all times. We’re not the only ones who don’t like it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This training had been designed to strengthen the bonds between the two groups, for at present, they didn’t see eye to eye. The men of the military thought the royal knights were a bunch of spoiled brats who had never seen real battle, while the knights thought the soldiers were a bunch of unrefined brutes. Each group looked down upon the other. Lyle and Dida didn’t much care for either.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, that was why the two groups occasionally held these joint training exercises. Both the soldiers and the knights idolized General Gazell, and they came running any time he summoned them. The general had wanted to attend his old friend Baron Messi’s party, but he couldn’t neglect this opportunity to mend the frayed relationship between the two branches of the armed forces and so had regretfully declined his invitation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida heaved an inward sigh, lamenting the bad luck that had led to him and Lyle getting wrapped up in it, too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The knights and soldiers were already gathered on the training field located on the palace grounds. General Gazell was nowhere to be seen. As Dida and Lyle belonged to neither the military nor the knight order, they were regarded with a good deal of suspicion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oho, there you are!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At last, General Gazell appeared behind them. The instant he did, everyone straightened and focused their attention on him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“General Gazell! Pardon me, but who are they?” one knight asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My apprentices. They happened to be visiting the capital, so I invited them over.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“General Gazell’s apprentices…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now the gathered men studied Lyle and Dida with a new light in their eyes. Was that the light of challenge? No, simple evaluation. It only went to show just how much these men admired the general. Most had done some manner of training drills with him, but very few had taken any kind of private lessons from the general himself. Small wonder they looked at Lyle and Dida with such interest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shall we begin, Knight Commander?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. We’re ready, General Gazell.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was Doruna Kataberia, the knight commander of the royal guard. The instant Lyle and Dida saw him, their eyes flashed. So that was Dorssen’s father.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Neither of them made a move, however; they only observed the exchange between the general and the knight commander with their own renewed interest.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Phwaaah…” Dida let out a huge yawn. Close to an hour had passed since the training exercise began. He and Lyle were still standing around watching it from afar.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You look bored,” General Gazell said with a wry grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seems a good reason to let us go, Master.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not a chance. I want you to participate later. You’ll go a round with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At those words, the two of them tensed up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But that’s later. What do you think of the training?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“About ten stand out. For me, only four are good enough to be worth fighting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "General Gazell laughed at Dida’s flippant comment. “And you, Lyle?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… I’d take two, maybe? The others are fine on the training ground, but I wouldn’t want to take them into a real battle. Their swords are too light.” When he said this, he of course didn’t mean physical weight but the intent with which they wielded their blades.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ooh, so Lyle’s the more critical judge, hm?” General Gazell understood why, so his smile held a grim edge.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come on, Master. You know his motto is ‘Tough on yourself, tough on others.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Or maybe you’re just too easy on people, Dida,” said Lyle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, yeah, or maybe your expectations are too high. Especially of these guys. They’re floundering in a basic training exercise.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida’s eyes were flat and emotionless as he studied the men. They were in the midst of an exercise to increase their stamina. It seemed much harder than their usual training regimen, but to Dida and Lyle, disciples of General Gazell himself, it looked incredibly elementary.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Master… Perhaps you should stop gallivanting across the realm and train them more assiduously? They need more real field experience as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t say that. There haven’t been any battles since the Tweil War anyway. Not to mention that the knights are so rarely sent to the front line. And all the hardened soldiers are already guarding the borders.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, they’re calling for me. You go ahead and join us whenever you like.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida and Lyle didn’t move. They’d done their own drills first thing that morning, long before they came to the palace.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Say, Lyle, which ones do you want to fight?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The brown-haired knight and the soldier with the black hair in the back over there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh. Same. I’ll take the knight, you take the soldier.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was just about to say the same thing to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two smirked mischievously at each other. As they were already here, they figured they might as well take on the two strongest men the armed forces had to offer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, you two.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Someone suddenly called out to them. They turned, suspicion in their eyes, and saw Dorssen Kataberia standing before them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you need something?” Dida asked, not bothering to hide his contempt.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t need anything except for you to leave this place at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t know how you managed to butter up General Gazell, but you need to give up on your delusions of grandeur and stay in your own little world.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Delusions of what now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re dreaming of joining the royal knights, aren’t you? Why else would you people come here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Another knight rushed over, sensing the tension. “Hey, Dorssen! Knock it off. Those two are—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dreaming about being knighted? Ha. That’s a funny joke, eh, Lyle?” Dida laughed coldly, at which Lyle nodded, expressionless. “I’d never serve the kingdom. What has this country ever done for us? Our mistress saved us. You think we’d ever even consider leaving her? Listen up, rich boy—don’t worry your pretty little head. We’ve never once thought about becoming lowly knights. Not even once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lowly knights?! You arrogant—draw your sword this instant!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida laughed out loud at this challenge. By now, the rest of the men had heard the commotion and realized a fight was imminent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Draw my sword? Sure, I’ll take you on.” Dida followed Dorssen over to the training yard. Lyle made no move to stop him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-oi, Dida,” General Gazell called, bewildered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida smiled coldly. “Rich boy here challenged me to a fight. You don’t mind, do you, Knight Commander?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida directed this question to Doruna, who solemnly nodded. “My apologies for the trouble.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, the knight commander gave us his permission, so let’s fight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In his heart of hearts, General Gazell wondered if an unspoken “…to the death” was hidden in Dida’s challenge, but he held his tongue. “I’ll be the judge,” he said instead.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Master.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The knights and soldiers cleared the area as Dida and Dorssen faced off.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Begin!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen snapped to action the moment General Gazell spoke the word. His speed was enviable for a newly minted knight, yet Dida expertly answered his every move.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A knight’s job is to protect the royal family and the palace, right?” Dida asked, utterly collected as Dorssen struggled to keep up with him. “I’m sure you don’t want lessons from a mere bodyguard, but what do you think is the most necessary skill for a professional protector?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen gave Dida a suspicious, puzzled look as if to say, “Huh?”—but he didn’t have the chance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think it’s the strength to kill as many people as possible? No, of course not.” Dida had been on the defense, but now he batted away Dorssen’s sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hah!” Dorssen struggled to fend off these techniques—too fast, too sharp—that outstripped the skills he had thus far worked to cultivate. Dida’s bladework inspired a primal fear within him. If he couldn’t win this—",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have to be able to forsake physical strength,” Dida continued. “If you face an enemy who’s flat-out better than you, and you’ve got someone to protect, you still have to figure out how to defeat them. Right? You have to protect your master. So maybe you realize the best plan of attack isn’t to fight at all but to run. Or maybe you have to sacrifice someone else so your master can live.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen could no longer fend off Dida, and he fell back onto the ground.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We watched you guys train. I can tell you’re better than the other new knights. And you’ve got what it takes to improve, but only to a point. You’re overconfident in your own strength and abilities, so you challenged someone whose strength you misjudged… Not to mention, any man who raises a hand to a woman has no decorum—and no business being a knight.” Dida approached Dorssen. He raised his sword. “I don’t know how much pride you take in being a knight. But I don’t consider you one.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s enough, Dida!” General Gazell shouted the second Dida moved to bring down his sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re such a worrywart, Master. I’d never actually strike. Anyway, this is just a practice sword. The tip’s busted.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, no. You were going to do it! You can’t fool me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida laughed despite the general’s tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s enough, now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know, Master.” Dida obeyed and left the training grounds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An odd tension hung in the air, but the general swiftly called for everyone to resume training. Meanwhile, Dorssen remained lying face up on the ground.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you stupid or something?” a senior knight called out to him with exasperation. Dorssen scowled, but the knight continued. “Those two don’t need to make connections. Both the royal knights and the military have already tried to recruit them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They’re General Gazell’s favorite apprentices. If you were going to compare them to one of our own, they’re as strong as Commander Malcolm.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seriously?” Dorssen was speechless. Commander Malcolm was an exceptional knight of wide renown.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m genuinely pleased that you take so much pride in being a knight,” the officer went on, harshly reprimanding him. “You’re respectful to your superiors and kind to your peers. But your world is too small. You’re one of the order now, so you need to start taking responsibility for your words and actions. You can no longer act without decorum—without honor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen couldn’t say a word in response.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day, I finished up my work and was enjoying some tea.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Morning, Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Grandfather! Welcome back. Lyle and Dida didn’t come home last night. Do you know why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry. They had too much to drink.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought Grandfather looked a little guilty, and he confessed that he’d had to take Lyle and Dida home after carousing with them. Grandfather drank like a fish, so I was certain my bodyguards had felt pressured to keep up with him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya, make sure they drink plenty of water.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I gave Tanya instructions, I sat across from Grandfather. “I know you can take an awful lot, but you shouldn’t drink too much. Maybe you ought to cut back a bit on the alcohol.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh…” Grandfather looked away awkwardly. He loved his drink.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How much did you have last night?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We started out with the knights and the soldiers. But since I couldn’t really let loose with them, the three of us went out alone afterward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So that was the cause. Grandfather had often brought Lyle and Dida out on the town with him while they were training, ostensibly so they could learn their own limits when it came to alcohol, but every time, they came back largely insensible. Grandfather was so fond of them that they always ended up overindulging to please him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya? What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rudius is here for General Gazell.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” My grandfather looked flustered. I rarely saw him like that, so I had to laugh. “Tell him I’m not here!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…” Tanya trailed off awkwardly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, Rudius poked his head out from behind her. “I heard you were drinking again, Grandfather.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-no, I—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How many times have I told you to control yourself? Your face is known throughout the kingdom. Don’t come crying to me if you pass out after bingeing and someone takes the opportunity to attack you! Please, Grandfather, spare a thought for restraint when you’re out in public!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My grandfather seemed to shrink with every word Rudius spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudius was the son of my mother’s older brother—in other words, my cousin from House Anderson. My uncle, the marquis, wasn’t as physically powerful as my grandfather, so he hadn’t joined the military or the knights. The same went for Rudius; he was studying to follow in his father’s footsteps, although I wasn’t sure what exactly he was studying.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, he was definitely my grandfather’s grandson. He moved like a warrior—like Lyle or Dida—and his body was slender yet muscular.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nice to see you, Rudy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you, Iris. My apologies as well. It’s been so long since we saw each other last, and I have every regret that these are the circumstances of our reunion.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudius was two years older than me, so we’d been at the academy together for only one year. Since we hadn’t been in the same grade, we hadn’t had much occasion to interact, especially after my expulsion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine. I was just telling Grandfather he should cut back on the alcohol.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really? I’m glad you’re on his case, too. He never listens to me, but he can’t help himself with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s not true. Ah, would you like some tea?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My thanks for the invitation, but I’m afraid I have another engagement. Come along, Grandfather.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled. “Grandfather, thank you so much for seeing Lyle and Dida back. Please go on home and rest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“B-but I want to stay here,” Grandfather scowled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you going on about? Come on. Home, now,” Rudius said firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I always enjoyed these exchanges.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris, let’s talk again later,” Rudius said as he dragged Grandfather out of the room. Just how much strength was he packing in that small frame?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everything quieted after that, like the calm following a storm.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya. May I have another cup of tea?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I considered resting a while longer, but then Berne came in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I join you, if you’re not busy?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya, the ever-attentive servant, quickly served Berne some tea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a long time since we talked like this, Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t seen him since the Foundation Day celebration. I had been preoccupied with my own affairs, and Berne was busy helping our father with his work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right.” Berne agreed as he took a sip of his herbal tea. He must have liked it, because his face softened with relaxation. “I was wondering if you were going home to the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I am. I’ve left it unattended for far too long. I really should be going back soon. But how have you been lately?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve been learning quite a bit from Father. I need to make up for all the time I wasted playing around.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wouldn’t say you were playing. Don’t worry so much. There are many important things you can only experience in school.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d certainly felt that way in my past life a lot. Your school days are incredibly important. You definitely realize that once you start working. Being with people your own age, studying and forging friendships and fighting all in the same space… There are tough times, but there are irreplaceably amazing ones, too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that my school days were over, I really felt that to be deeply true.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I stole those important things from you, Sister.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His voice had grown quiet all of a sudden, and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d caught what he said. Nevertheless, he was pale, and I could tell something was amiss.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sister… Please allow me to apologize.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is a bit startling. Apologize for what?” I didn’t really have to ask, though. I was all but certain what he meant to imply.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For getting you expelled.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even though I’d known what he was going to say, I found I had wanted to hear those words from his mouth. “My expulsion?” I asked. “There’s nothing to apologize for. It was a result of my actions, driven by my emotions. In other words, it was my own fault.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You said that before. But I didn’t believe it then either. All I could think of back then was winning Yuri’s affection. It drove me to everything I did. I acted on my feelings, and I gave no thought to the consequences.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is this to say that your aspirations to become prime minister are a form of apology to me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It sounded like he was declaring he had decided to never again be carried away by his emotions. It really did seem like this was why he had decided to commit to learning from our father.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s part of it, but not all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, what else is there?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I lost myself in my feelings for Yuri and acted solely on those emotions. But at the same time, I thought myself better than you. I freely blamed you for everything, even though you also have a heart and did what you did because it was hurt. It’s so obvious now, but at the time, I failed to understand. So I want to apologize to you as your brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was speechless. On one hand, I felt like it was too late for such an apology, but on the other hand, it gave me the slightest comfort. After everything that had happened, I’d stopped thinking of Berne as my brother, all because at that time, at that moment, he’d chosen Yuri over me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The me from my past life could calmly observe his actions and think, “Well, it’s no wonder he chose the girl he loved,” but the me who was Iris had screamed, “Why, why?” inside her heart. “Why don’t you understand me?” and “Why have even you abandoned me, Berne?” I understood both sets of feelings, and I pitied myself for the agony of my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d never had much of a relationship with Dorssen and Van, so I honestly hadn’t cared about their reactions. But Edward and Berne were different. Their betrayal was the moment I’d lost hope. The man I loved slandered me, and then my own brother turned his back on me. They both chose Yuri. Realizing that they could forsake me so easily left me in a state of absolute shock. Then they humiliated me to the umpteenth degree, confronting me in front of all those people—attacking me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since that was the exact moment when I’d regained the memories of my past life, I hadn’t really absorbed it all at the time, but under normal circumstances, I would have been terrified. That was why, ever since, I’d vowed to never fall in love, nor to place my complete trust in anyone ever again—because I had been abandoned by my own family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As my brother was the reason I had come to this way of thinking, accepting his apology would be no mean feat. Even now, conflicting emotions warred within me; his apology left my past self numb, while it made Iris want to mend things with her brother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I…accept your apology. But I can’t say that I forgive you. Not straight away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wondered… If Yuri were in my shoes, would she instantly say she forgave him at a time like this? I had to let out a self-deprecating chuckle at that ridiculous thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yet Berne gave me a satisfied smile. “That’s more than enough for me.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At last, it was time to go home. I steeled myself as I stood outside my father’s room, whereupon I knocked on the door and entered. “Pardon me, Father.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He glanced up at me from within his piles of documents. It was uncannily nostalgic. I’d come to his office to speak with him once before, directly following my expulsion. That now felt like the distant past.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you returning, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I’ll be leaving the capital tomorrow.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see.” Father set down his pen with a clink and gestured for me to sit in the chair in front of his desk.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you,” I said as I sat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s something I need to warn you about.” His stern tone made me sit up straighter. He was quite tense, even compared to our last meeting in this room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You must be on your guard with Queen Ellia and House Marea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I have handled our interactions with care—especially since they lead the second prince’s faction.” I was a bit puzzled. I didn’t quite understand what more he was getting at.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not the issue. The queen dowager indicated that you had her backing both publicly and privately at the Foundation Day celebration.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you mean to say that because of that, Queen Ellia and House Marea now see me as a direct threat?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The second prince had broken our engagement, so they knew there was no way I would support their camp. It wasn’t only a matter of my own personal feelings—my doing so would worsen their public image as well. Thus, I was a bit of a problem for Queen Ellia in every regard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. Not you. House Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“House Marea has always seen House Armelia as a thorn in their side. Even though one of their line is now the queen, I am the prime minister, and Merry is both the queen dowager’s favorite and one of the most influential members of high society. We’ve always stood above House Marea. But since I’ve remained neutral in the conflict between the factions, Merry has been able to avoid the power struggles within the palace. As such, even though we’re a threat to House Marea, they’ve never tried to undermine us; the risks were too great. But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The second prince broke off his engagement with me, the daughter of Duke Armelia, and now I’ve gained power.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Precisely. You’ve had more success as acting governor than anyone could have imagined. You’ve even built a successful company. And all in such little time. As such, our family has gained such presence that House Marea can no longer sit idly by.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m sorry…” How pathetic of me—I’d just kept charging along at full speed, accepting all my success without even thinking of the far-reaching consequences. If only I’d thought even a little about how my work might play out politically, it would have been so obvious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d only been elevated to the role of acting governor because of my father’s kindness. I couldn’t believe I’d managed to cause trouble for my family yet again!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It was my fault for underestimating your ability,” he said. “There’s no need for you to apologize.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Luckily, nothing has come of this yet. That’s why I want you to proceed with exceeding caution when you return to the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, he rang the bell in front of him and a maid appeared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Get us something to drink.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few moments later, the maid set a teacup in front of me. I gladly sipped the tea, hoping it would calm my nerves.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know this sounds like I’m repeating myself, but…” my father started hesitantly. “You must be cautious of Marquis Marea, but you must be extremely wary of Queen Ellia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why do you keep saying that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She has changed since entering the palace.” My father spoke slowly, as if trying to find the right words. I wondered what he was so reluctant to say. “To the extent that there are rumors saying she was the one responsible for the late queen’s death.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You…you haven’t investigated her, Father?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I found no evidence when I did. Lacking that, should I have openly accused the new queen, daughter of a marquis?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon my rudeness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that I thought about it, in this world, it was incredibly difficult to prove anyone’s guilt or innocence, what with the lack of advanced scientific investigative tools we’d had in my other life. On top of that, the suspect in question was incredibly powerful and capable of doing anything. It was possible this was all merely a rumor spread by the first prince’s faction…but it could be the truth. I wasn’t sure either way, but I certainly needed to be careful of anyone about whom such rumors could be believably spread.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At any rate, I wanted you to be aware of these sinister whisperings. Be vigilant, and take care of yourself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I realized I had begun to tremble. I didn’t want to make an enemy of the queen, but she probably already thought of me as her foe.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve already taken the initiative to inform Tanya, Lyle, and Dida. And now you know as well. Be careful.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I take your warning with utmost seriousness, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had been on the verge of imprisonment and managed to escape it all the way to this point, after all. I didn’t want to die now. Not to mention, I would leave behind too many regrets if I abandoned the people of my duchy. All the changes I was trying to instigate would be left forever unfinished.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard you’ve been investigating the baron’s daughter, Yuri Neuer?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You certainly seem to know everything that’s going on, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, well. How much have you found out?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ms. Yuri’s mother was a maid at the palace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. It was House Rubens who provided her recommendation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“House Rubens?” I frowned at him; I’d never heard of that family before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s all I can tell you about that.” His voice was so firm I gave up trying to press him for more details. “I’m sure that information will be enough to guide you to the truth of the matter. But don’t pry overmuch. You’re already in a tight position as it is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So then, why…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because I don’t want you provoking them by sending your orphans to nose about the palace. If you just need to investigate a noble house, you can do so through books, no?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for the information.” So he didn’t want me to keep digging. I certainly couldn’t just do whatever I wanted without thinking now, especially after hearing all this. That was my father, though; there was no way to defy him. “And thank you for your time. I’ll excuse myself now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm. Watch yourself on your way.” It sounded like he was saying, “Be careful on the way home, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was right, though. If House Marea or the queen were planning on making a move against me, it would be to their advantage to do so while I was traveling. I would have to listen carefully to Tanya, Lyle, and Dida on our way home.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now, then. I wasn’t having some big farewell party, but I said goodbye to those close to me and informed them of my plan to return to the duchy. My entire family and all of the servants came to see me off. After all that, even though I was going “home,” I did feel a little sad to leave them all.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady. We’re going to be traveling quickly, so it might not be comfortable. I just wanted to make you aware.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine, Tanya. I know that you’re all putting my safety first, so I’ve no complaints.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Tanya implied, the road home was no picnic. We traveled by carriage during the day and stayed at inns incognito during the night. We left again once the sun rose. It took days and was terribly tiring, but I couldn’t complain. My attendants had designed this travel plan in my best interests.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry, everyone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I got to sit in the carriage the whole way, but my bodyguards were all on horseback without so much as a break. They suffered far more than I did, leaving me feeling awfully guilty. I kept apologizing about it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s no reason for apologies, my lady,” said Tanya. “We’re doing our jobs.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lyle and Dida are even tenser than usual because of who we suspect, aren’t they?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We had been together since we were small, so I could read Tanya’s feelings on her poker face, just like I could tell how the other two were feeling by their mood and casual gestures. Normally, they never lost their composure, but I could tell they were entirely on edge. The air had been tense since we left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We knew we might or might not be attacked, and if we were, we wouldn’t know what to expect. They might come at us head-on, or they might come stealthily in the middle of the night. They might use open brutality or a poisoned weapon to take my life. The people we were up against had the means to prepare any number of weapons or assassins for this task. The royal family itself had painted a target on my back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Any of my guardians could have at any time decided it was far too troublesome to work for someone like me and gone to find other employment—especially Lyle and Dida. Yet they remained by my side. No words could explain how happy that made me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, Lyle knelt before me, as if reading my thoughts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I take pride in being your sword and shield, my lady. And I shall take up my sword now and forever for your sake.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After he was done speaking, my other guards also knelt.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We still remember that promise.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They were talking about the promise we’d made when we were out touring the duchy, when we stopped on that hill overlooking the ports.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Will you give me your everything?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They had agreed to that, but I still had to admit I was surprised at how things had played out since, leading up to this day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, everyone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our little break ended, and I got back in the carriage. I absently gazed out the window through the curtain. We were nearly back home. I just wanted to be there already. Those thoughts swirled in my head as I watched the scenery pass.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then, finally, we reached Armelia. I was warmed by nostalgia, of course, but mainly I was incredibly relieved to have arrived safely.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome home, my lady.” Sebastian, Sei, and the rest of the servants who had stayed behind all greeted me. “We heard your journey was most tiring. Please go and rest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Sebastian. And thank you all for welcoming us back home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I really was grateful for Sebastian’s suggestion. To no surprise, that anxious journey had left me exhausted. But now that I was here, I sagged with relief, and the fatigue overcame me all at once.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sebastian escorted me back to my room. As soon as I got there, I took a shower and changed into more comfortable clothing. Then I melted into my chair and sipped the herbal tea Tanya had prepared for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You must be tired too, Tanya. Go ahead and rest for today. I’m going to sleep.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She really must have been exhausted, because she didn’t so much as protest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out a sigh and wrapped my arms around my trembling body. Nothing had happened to me this time. That didn’t mean I could let my guard down. House Marea might not try to merely remove me from my position. They could very well try to kill me. But I couldn’t simply sit back because I was scared—and running away was out of the question.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, for the time being, I needed to rest. When I at last crawled into bed, I fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 9",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 8: The Duke’s Daughter Gets to Work in Armelia",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 8:The Duke’s Daughter Gets to Work in Armelia",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "THE NEXT DAY, I woke up at the usual time. I’d gone to bed quite early the night before, so I’d thought I would awaken earlier, but that just went to show how truly tired I’d been. I felt far more alert and rested. I did my yoga, showered, and changed. It felt like a perfectly normal morning. I took breakfast in my room, enjoying Armelian food for the first time in ages.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady.” I was drinking tea after breakfast when Sebastian came into the room with an apologetic look on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Sebastian? I’m going to start work early today. I know you sent me letters and reports, but I’d like you to update me on everything the various branches have been up to. I’ll speak with those in charge too, if that’s necessary.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to get to work reading and signing the documents that had piled up in my absence as well as get up to speed on the goings-on in the duchy. That was my first priority upon coming home. Therefore, I went to my study and found a tidy yet sizable mountain of papers on my desk.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, I’ll read through the documents first. I’ll call you in later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Also, bring Lyle and Dida in here, please.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I got to work on the documents after Sebastian left. Just as my mind wandered, wondering when I would ever get through checking all these papers, there was a knock at the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come in. Oh, Dean!” I couldn’t hide my surprise at this unexpected visitor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s been a long time, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can say that again! You came here while I was in the capital too, didn’t you? Thank you ever so much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t need to thank me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? All right, then. In any case, Dean, I have so many questions to ask you.” After we exchanged pleasantries, I brought up every question I’d had while reading through the documents. Apparently, he and Sebastian had done the bulk of the work while I was away, so I was incredibly grateful that he’d showed up when he did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And we’re done with the land readjustment project for the capital. We’ve also finished drawing up family registers for the entire population, so all that’s left is to confirm land ownership rights.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The projects I had set into motion before going to the capital were progressing. There were many residences in our capital, so it was relatively easy to establish land ownership here, as the citizens had used basic contracts at the time of selling and buying their homes. But the farther you got from the capital, the less clear-cut circumstances became. In farming villages, it was far more difficult to tell where one person’s land stopped and the next property began.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. And finally, the eastern territory is largely complete. Meanwhile, the Azuta Corporation sorted out land ownership in the southern territories, where our cacao is produced, at the time we initiated our contracts with the farmers, so that registry is mostly finished as well. For the most part, it’s the western and northern territories that require attention.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…I suppose we’ll just have to go to those areas and talk with the residents.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s Abitante’s first priority right now, aside from conducting the census you requested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Yes, let’s go forward with all those plans.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As we continued, confirming details, there was another knock at the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry. Is this a bad time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Merida! Long time no see. Could you wait a moment?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need. I’ll excuse myself now,” said Dean. “I’ll go ahead and convey your orders to the various heads of all the branches.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you, Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He bowed and left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry,” said Merida.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. You’re always so busy, though. What brings you here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d left Merida in charge of our cafés, so she was usually either on site at one of them or traveling between them. It was rare for me to see her at the estate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not as busy as you, my lady. I heard you were in danger on your trip home, so of course, I worried. I wanted to check on you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. But as you can see, I’m fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, of course you are. Otherwise, I would’ve given Lyle and Dida what for.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to laugh at Merida’s characteristic tone of voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Also, I wanted to tell you I finished the new items you requested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Have you brought them with you?” I’d asked Merida to make desserts from gelatin we’d obtained from trading with the neighboring kingdom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I just wanted to make you aware. I came here in a rush, so unfortunately, I forgot to bring them. I’ll show you sometime later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m looking forward to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Also, that coffee drink you mentioned? When would you like me to start serving that at the cafes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oho! It seemed she’d tied off another of my projects while I was away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We hadn’t yet managed to find any actual coffee beans, so we were making dandelion coffee. It was definitely a different experience for me, since I’d been an avid coffee drinker in my past life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, we haven’t advertised it yet, so I think it’ll be a while,” I said. “Until then, I’d appreciate it if you started thinking of ways to add coffee to your desserts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. I was thinking about lingering here for a while. I’ll work on those while I’m about.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wonderful.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So? How was it, being back at the capital after such a long time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought I’d feel more strongly about it. But really, I didn’t feel anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. Of course I felt nostalgic, and happy when I saw old friends and my family, but apparently, I didn’t have any lingering attachment to the capital itself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You sound like you’ve really gotten over it,” Merida observed with a chuckle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More like I realized I never belonged there in the first place.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d regained the memories of my other life right in the thick of the incident that drove me from it, after all. I’d come here soon afterward, so the newly combined me hadn’t had much time to get too attached to the capital. Regardless, it would have been too stifling to stay there, weighed down by the expectations laid on a duke’s daughter as well as by everything that had happened with Yuri.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm, I guess that’s just how it is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. This is my home, and you all are my family. That’s enough for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. Well, I’m honored.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merida and I talked for a while longer until she left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, I resumed my work checking various documents. We’d begun trading with other countries, and our company’s revenue had skyrocketed, along with profits from numerous innovations we’d been developing at our academy. With the creation of so many new jobs, individual income was on the rise. We were also sorting out infrastructure in Armelia’s various territories. The capital city’s infrastructure was so well organized that everything ran smoothly, but some places in the duchy still didn’t have running water or proper sewers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After I checked on the progress of all of that, I signed the necessary documents and fixed those in need of fixing. By that time, it was already fairly late at night.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah… I’m exhausted…” I moaned as I rubbed my eyes. I looked out the window to find it already dark outside. As I lived in and worked out of the governor’s mansion, a good deal of land surrounded the property. With no other residences nearby, it grew extremely dark after sunset. The one good thing about this was that the stars shone so brightly at night. I peeled my attention from the documents and gazed up at those stars.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me. May I have a moment?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean stood in my doorway.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I have this for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He’d brought me a document that required urgent response. I checked it over and took care of the items needing my attention.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry. You seemed to be at rest.” Dean bowed his head in apology.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. I’m surprised to see you up working this late.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems to me you’re the last person who ought to lecture me on such matters, my lady. In any case, my time in Armelia is limited, so I strive to finish as much as I possibly can now, in order to ensure the work is manageable next time I come around.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So the work would be manageable, would it? He tried to make it sound like he did this for his own benefit, but I understood that he was trying to lessen my burden as much as he could. Every bit of work he took charge of was work I then didn’t have to do. But for all that, there was still nothing forcing him to return.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really needn’t work so hard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m well aware, my lady. Why don’t you take a real break? I was just about to myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well… All right, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of us stepped out onto the balcony. Right before I’d left for the capital, I’d asked for a table and chairs to be placed out there so I could use the space to rest when I took my eyes off my work. Tanya had reluctantly agreed. She would have preferred it if I took my breaks away from the study entirely.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, how was the capital?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was fine. Not much to say about it, really?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm-hmm. Between you and me, I honestly couldn’t wait to come back home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. Everyone dreams about the social season in the capital, what with the fetes and balls, but I suppose it would take more than that to impress you, hm?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha. I suppose.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The series of parties were certainly fancy. But behind the curtains, the social season’s events were nothing more than a game of cat and mouse among the nobles. Also, the capital didn’t hold any good memories for me. Especially now, with this whole business with Queen Ellia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How have you been, Dean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing much happened on my end either. I attended to some of my family’s work, visited some friends. That was about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That reminds me—you haven’t really told me anything about your family. Do you have siblings?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For some reason, Dean’s face clouded over. I instantly realized I had asked him something I shouldn’t have; his reaction made that abundantly clear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, it’s all right. I have a younger brother and sister.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, one of each? Hey, Dean… Can I ask you something strange?” The mention of a younger brother had reminded me of Berne. “Have you ever fought with your siblings?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you ask?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, as you know, I also have a younger brother. We had quite a falling-out a while ago… And I had pretty much cut ties with him for good before returning to Armelia. But while I was at the capital, my brother apologized to me. I found I couldn’t forgive him, though. I just couldn’t overcome the anger I still felt toward him.” A self-deprecating smile crossed my face. “Am I insensitive? As the older sibling, shouldn’t I just let bygones be bygones and relinquish the grudge? I suppose that’s a difficult question to ask.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true. I can’t really give you an answer.” Dean paused for a moment and then continued. “Especially as I can’t honestly say my relationship with my siblings is healthy either.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I looked at him with surprise. “Really? You too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I suppose I get along well enough with my sister, but things are worse between me and my brother than between you and yours.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This last comment bothered me. Not that it was anything to brag about, but it would be terribly difficult to top the strife between Berne and me. We hadn’t spoken for several years, and he’d debased me in public, and he’d done it all while Yuri had been uprooting my life before his eyes. I honestly couldn’t imagine a worse sibling relationship.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Dean’s answer left no room for doubt. “I don’t even consider him family, to be honest with you. If we had been born in separate houses, our relationship would be over. The only thing keeping us from total alienation is that the same blood runs in our veins. At the same time, I think we both resent each other for that blood. And we both feel like the other is merely in the way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As he spoke, his voice grew so cold, I was almost afraid. His face and his eyes were blank, reflecting no emotions. But strangely, I didn’t feel uncomfortable—because I had felt the exact same way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So I can’t say anything much on the matter. Although…thanks to my sister, I have at least come to understand the warmth of being with family, and I am endlessly grateful for that. However, I don’t believe there’s anything to be done about my brother. I’ve given up on him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” I smiled a little. “Your answer has made me feel a bit better, though. I felt like I ought to act in a certain way toward my brother simply because we’re siblings. I keep thinking about what I ought to do as his older sister. But I believe now I’ll try to put that approach aside.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good.” Dean smiled a little as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The uneasy feeling in my heart had cleared, just a touch.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now, may I ask you a question?” Dean asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you look that way when I mentioned returning here ‘next time’?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mind blanked for a moment—his tone was so casual that I was caught off guard. But pausing like that made it obvious this wasn’t something I could brush off. I pulled myself back to reality, regretting my lapse. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Whatever do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The expression on your face. I felt like you wished things were more distant between us. There’s an odd tension in the air, even now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, dear. Now what? It was incredibly difficult to deny anything was wrong after he had so accurately guessed my feelings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean… If you’re so aware of my feelings, you must understand the position I’m in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even if he didn’t know the queen herself had named me a rival, he had to know my position in the kingdom was the picture of precarity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He smiled in agreement. “Of course. But that has nothing to do with whether I return.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t expected him to say that, so it took me a few seconds to comprehend exactly what he meant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean… Do you mean it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course I do. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stared at him, searching his face. His eyes were impassive; I had no idea what he was thinking, but I knew he was serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea have decided I’m trouble. Can you still say you mean it, now that I’ve told you outright?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m surprised. Did you really think me so unfeeling?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I widened my eyes in surprise. Did I really sound like I was implying as much? “Of course I don’t—but you also have no reason to stay here. Our contracts have always been short-term. You have no obligation to remain. Moreover, I’m sure you could find far more lucrative employment in numerous other circumstances. So again, you have no reason to stay.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the time of signing, we’d established his rate of pay. As he served as my right hand to govern the duchy, his salary was a bit higher than that of the average state official. That being said, those salaries weren’t all that high to begin with. I paid some of my business advisors more than I paid Dean. The only advantage to being a state official was job security; you never had to worry over whether the duchy would go out of business, like you might with a company. However, that job security didn’t apply to Dean, since his contracts were always temporary.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had no right to keep him here, and he was free to do as he pleased while not under contract with me. He really had no meaningful attachment to Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t know you valued me so highly, my lady,” he said in a joking tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was just trying to be honest. I let out a sigh, which only made him smile more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose if you took my work out of the equation, I’ve never before struggled, nor truly hit a wall.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was a rather bold statement. Dean just kept surprising me. Although I had more or less already guessed as much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But that’s awfully boring, you know? It’s just like studying or exercise. Neither feels especially fulfilling until you get to an obstacle that you must work hard to overcome. Once something becomes too easy, it’s no longer exciting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All that made a great deal of sense to me. I’d felt that way in my other life. When I’d come upon a particularly difficult problem, even though getting through it was a struggle, I always felt an incredible sense of accomplishment once I did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But I really didn’t understand what exactly he meant at this very moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve found my time in Armelia exciting—and rewarding—in the extreme. You inspire me to think in ways I’d never considered before, my lady. The same goes for the supremely talented people who work with you. You’re truly revolutionizing the duchy. What will you try next? What will come of it? It’s been so long since I encountered any such daring schemes. That’s why it’s so interesting, so invigorating.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He stared deeply into my eyes as he spoke, and the intense eye contact made me feel a bit shy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s why I continue to return. I only intended to do so the once, but I just keep coming back.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The amused smile suddenly vanished from his face, which tightened into a serious expression.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, I understand if you cannot place your full trust in me. I was the one to say I could only enter into a temporary contract with you. Not to mention that you have people in your employ who have been with you since your childhood.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I did trust them all implicitly. In fact, besides Mother and Father, they were the only people I entirely trusted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t ask you to treat me as you treat them. I cannot compete with the long years you’ve spent with them or with the intimacy you share. But, my lady…I relish working for you, from the bottom of my heart. It’s all that I wish to do. Even after my contract has expired.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You need not ever hold back with me. Even though for the time being, I can only be with you for a short time…I’m already yours. And I have been for a very long time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My face flushed at these words. In every other circumstance in my life, I had been the one to confess any such feeling of devotion to another. To be on the flip side left me terribly nervous.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He looked at me once more and said, “I’ll take my leave; there’s more to do,” then left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a long while after, I simply sat there in stunned silence.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A week passed, and I was very nearly caught up with all my work. It helped that Dean was staying for an extended period. Speaking of Dean, things were surprisingly normal between us. Even though I’d been so flustered and thought for sure our relationship would be unbearably awkward, it wasn’t. It frustrated me a bit, to be honest.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, I digress.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was at the library to do research on the information my father had divulged. The library was in a separate building from the main mansion. Its bookshelves stretched all the way up to the high ceilings of the main room, and books lay about here and there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rehme looked surprised to see me. “Hm? I haven’t seen you here in some time, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I didn’t know you were here, Rehme.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. No classes for me today. But what brings you here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Research. On House Rubens.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Duke Rubens? I haven’t heard that name in quite some time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But she had heard of it. Of course. Rehme had reacted to the name without even skipping a beat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So he’s a duke? Why haven’t I heard of this person before?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s only natural you haven’t! Many generations ago, it was the house of a prince. They didn’t have a proper duchy but instead owned land in the royal capital. The last time there was really any talk of them was probably thirty years ago.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thirty years ago? Around the time of the Tweil War?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. As proof of the cease-fire, a princess of Tweil married into Tasmeria’s royal family. At the time, our monarch was a queen, and her son, the prince, was too young for the princess from Tweil. More importantly, if she had been taken into the royal family or someone too closely related to them, it would have interfered with the line of succession. Therefore they selected House Rubens. So long as the head of their house didn’t pass away prematurely, their own house’s line of succession would be secure—and they were of fine lineage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So in other words, House Rubens now had Tweil lineage. And Yuri Neuer’s mother had been brought to the royal palace via recommendation from House Rubens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It would have been difficult to turn down her application with such a prestigious introduction. Moreover, House Rubens had accepted the princess from Tweil upon order of the kingdom. If the palace had used her heritage as an excuse to turn a servant away, it would have been a diplomatic incident. Although, I suspected my father would have used that to his advantage either way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, I’d now connected the dots and was beginning to see the big picture. Frankly, it was a bad one. To put it plainly, there was a tremendously high possibility that Yuri Neuer’s mother was from Tweil or had close ties to it—and that she might have cultivated the same opinions in her daughter. All of this made perfect sense to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But as my father said, none of this was under my jurisdiction. A governor—an acting one at that—had no business getting involved in a power struggle between kingdoms. Especially not now when I had to secure my own footing here. One wrong move and it might all fall out from right under my feet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s wrong, my lady? You look so pale all of a sudden.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was just thinking. But I’m fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yes, I was fine. Right? My father was certainly also gathering information and making plans. But one thing kept nagging at me, and it was about her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Let’s say Yuri was a spy from Tweil. In that case, she’d doubtlessly succeeded in her aim. She had her claws in the second prince, and now they were engaged. But if she’d failed, what would Tweil have done? I had to imagine they wouldn’t have just idly stood aside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then there were all the things Yuri had said and done. If she was a spy, shouldn’t she have tried to blend in? You know, like a properly subtle agent of espionage? Or maybe I’d read too many spy novels in my past life. Her behavior just didn’t seem consistent with that of a professional.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya.” I called out. She was waiting behind me. “You’re on my side, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me for saying so, but that question is meaningless. I belong to you, my lady. If you told me that you no longer needed me, my life would be without worth.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Then stop investigating Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But I want you to continue looking into Lord Monroe’s business and clients. I need to know the ranks and activities of as many families as I can. Including my father. I want that to be your first priority.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew I was making a ridiculous request of Tanya—to investigate the very noble house she worked for. But she looked neither the least bit surprised nor flustered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, my lady. I’ll tell my agents immediately. I’ll be gone for a while as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I understand. Please.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She quickly left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, I returned to my study. Entering it always strangely calmed me, likely because I’d spent more time there than anywhere else. I checked to see what work I had left to do, then called in Lyle, Dida, and Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All three of them entered the room at the same time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You wanted to see us, my lady?” said Lyle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is an awfully odd group,” snorted Dida. “What’s going on?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle scowled at Dida’s question, as usual, but Dida looked genuinely puzzled. Dean clearly agreed with him, because he nodded with a wry smile on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I require your assistance as my guards.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The atmosphere suddenly became exceptionally tense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All three of us? Where are you planning to go, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dida! I object, my lady. I can understand if you wish to travel around the duchy, but other than that…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am leaving, and it’s because I must. I also want to be cautious about it, which is why I’m bringing all three of you with me.” Lyle and Dida were the most able fighters I knew, and the next after them was Dean. I’d sent Tanya away on the other matter, which made this the best possible arrangement left to me. “So let’s go.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The sun felt so warm outside. With a tired smile on my face, I wondered when I’d last even left the estate. As we walked through Armelia’s capital, I observed my surroundings. Yes, everything seemed peaceful for now.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady. Would you please tell us what we’re doing today?” Lyle’s voice brought me back to reality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re doing a lot of things, Lyle—because I’m not sure when I’ll be able to leave the estate again. I want to observe the academy and chat with Headmaster Luca. I also want to visit the church and speak with Father Rafiel. Finally, I’d like to visit the orphanage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you need to address with Headmaster Luca?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The suggestions you gave me, Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Those suggestions weren’t from me, my lady. The ideas originated with you. I only added to them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Is that right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We both smiled at each other.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hm, good. Nothing had changed, at least on that front. Things were the same as they had always been between us. That was what I told myself as I followed Dida. The three of them walked in such a way that I was perfectly protected on all sides.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, right. There’s another new restaurant in town, Princess. I heard it’s great.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? That’s lovely. Where did you learn of it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The other guards.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d definitely trust their taste.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The last time I asked Dida where he’d heard about a restaurant, his answer had been hesitant, and I still didn’t really know why. He claimed he’d received the information from the officials at Borsa. I wondered sometimes about his personal connections, and also why he was talking about good restaurants with tax officials.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This concerned me mainly because my impression was that my bodyguards put their work above all else and largely viewed food as sustenance, not something to be enjoyed. Even if that hadn’t been their attitude when I first hired them, after a month or so on the job, they’d become workaholics. I had established that attitude to be fair, so really, it was my fault.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Speaking of the other guards, we’ll need to tighten up security across Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?” Lyle’s curiosity was piqued.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s a chance our unfriendly acquaintances will target not only myself but our people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then why did you leave the mansion today?” Lyle’s tone was frustrated, but all I could do was chuckle apologetically.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, he was right.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This matter will doubtlessly drag on for quite some time. If I waited until it was safe to see to these matters, I would be trapped at home forever. As such, I’ve brought you all with me today so I could tie up loose ends.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. And besides the two of us, there’s no better guard than Dean. Hence why you’ve brought him as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Precisely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And I couldn’t have done so, if things had still been awkward between us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m honored,” Dean replied with another impassive smile. “With your permission, if we’re to secure the duchy, I think perhaps we should add more border reinforcements and checkpoints. Since trade is booming, merchants are constantly coming and going, as are travelers from other domains.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As usual, Dean was just giving me more work, if in a good way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. It’s possible someone from our friend’s camp will try entering the duchy, too. Instruct Abitante to revisit checkpoint procedures with that in mind. It will be essential to coordinate these efforts throughout our security forces. All right. We’ll commence drawing up a plan when we get home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, we arrived at the academy. As usual, the building was swarming with people. Specifically, this was our institution of higher education. People of all genders, occupations, and ages came here, and everyone’s eyes sparkled with possibility. I loved seeing all of these students and teachers, hungry for knowledge. I walked inside, pleased with the atmosphere.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This place is incredible,” Dean murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hm? Was this his first time here?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m happy to hear you like it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We reached the headmaster’s door and I rapped softly on it, then went inside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s good to see you again, Headmaster.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Likewise, Lady Iris.” Headmaster Luca gave me a warm smile and welcomed us in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How are things at the academy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Same as always.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m glad to hear it. Please don’t hesitate to contact me the moment you run into any problems.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I appreciate that very much. Now, what brings you here today?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wanted your opinion on a matter, as someone who works on the front lines of education.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right now, I’m working on establishing a preliminary trade school. At the moment, our elementary schools teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, but I was thinking about turning the focus to training for professional careers at the next level of education.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What specifically do you mean?” Headmaster Luca’s eyes gleamed with curiosity, though his expression remained serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re short on teachers, so I hoped we could train educators, as well as guards and so forth for our security forces. We could also have a medical track.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I also wanted to develop a private school funded by Azuta Corporation profits to train butlers and maids, but since that didn’t have anything to do with Headmaster Luca, I didn’t bring it up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Medical track? But we have one here at the academy, don’t we? Is there a reason to develop a separate one?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want to devise some basic courses for them to take before they enter the academy of higher education. Currently, most of our incoming students already have medical experience at a local level, but the children coming through our elementary schools won’t have that experience. This way, they can learn the fundamentals at the trade school and further their education in the academy, whether it be as researchers or in the name of practical application. We’ll be able to better tailor our courses to students at different levels. As long as you agree, that is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm, it’s all very interesting. I do think implementing that plan will be quite effective in the long run.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So then…?” I trailed off.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Headmaster Luca nodded. “May I offer one suggestion?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. Go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As long as you’re establishing a trade school, I’d love to restructure the curriculum at the academy level, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And what would you like to do, exactly?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If these students from the trade school will be coming to the academy with a degree of specialized knowledge, then I think we should break the medical track down even more into dedicated practical and research tracks. Presently, courses on the fundamentals, practical training, and research methodology are all mixed together. There’s so much material to get through that the students are rarely, if ever, able to delve too deeply into any one subject. If we remove the general education classes from that mix, they’ll be able to focus more on their specializations and deepen their learning. In short, I’d like to give them opportunities to train to become true experts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… Yes, this sounds totally feasible. But I’m no expert in curriculum design, so would you like to take charge of it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. I’ll have a meeting with my staff to gather their opinions and then get to work on it right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I must say, your level of enthusiasm when it comes to education is certainly unusual, Lady Iris!” Headmaster Luca said with a curious smile on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Certainly. You’re young enough to be my granddaughter, but I have the utmost respect for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my. I’m honored to hear that. All I want is to give everyone more power, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Power?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Knowledge is power. People who are knowledgeable have more opportunities in business and options in their personal lives.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ever since I’d regained my memories, I had, perhaps for the first time, become truly grateful for the education I’d received in my past life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want my citizens to have their own thoughts and to have the independence to determine the course of their own lives.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see, I see. Yes, it’s quite wonderful. I’m impressed. I can’t wait to work together with you on this, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The headmaster smiled warmly at me, and I returned it in kind. The meeting ended smoothly in this manner, but later on, I would regret not spending more time with him. You see, without my say-so, at some point the academy’s motto became “Knowledge is power,” the words blown up into a banner that hung across the entrance of the school.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t believe he said all that,” Dean said as we left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who, Headmaster Luca? Do you know him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know of him. He’s famous! He’s said to be at the forefront of medical research, and when he resigned as the king’s personal physician, he traveled the realm caring for various nobles.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well, did he say something that surprised you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. He’s known for having a difficult temperament. So I was startled to hear him praise you so, to say nothing of his quick response to your request.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really? I always thought of him as a wonderfully kind old man.” I’d liked the headmaster from the moment I met him. I remembered thinking how friendly he was despite his reputation as a prominent figure in his field.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s obviously quite fond of you,” Dean said with a chuckle, to which I gave him a puzzled look and kept walking.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that my meeting with the headmaster was complete, my next stop was the church to talk with Father Rafiel.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Iris, do you have some kind of deep tie to this church?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A church is for prayer, is it not? And I haven’t been to one in some time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean looked thoughtful at this response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is it strange for me to go to a church to pray?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now Dean, Lyle, and Dida all had sheepish grins on their faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course it’s not strange, per se, but I just assumed it was your habit to take action about something yourself instead of praying to God about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to laugh and agree. Perhaps because I was distant with the church since I now had memories of my previous life. I wouldn’t have said I was a complete nonbeliever, but I also couldn’t deny that I wasn’t especially religious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Still, as a noble, I had been given a religious upbringing and had all the prayers and rituals of the Darryl Church inscribed in my mind, so I had to keep up appearances.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took the three of them to a small church on the edge of town. Father Rafiel’s church was attended to by himself and two other clergymen. It looked old from the outside, but simultaneously, that lent it a certain comforting warmth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I opened the door and walked up to the altar. A small number of people were inside. The Darryl Church worshiped the goddess Rilu, the mother of all life. All the citizens of Tasmeria believed in this religion, which served as the foundation of all lives, noble and commoner alike. Religion saturated all our customs, whether we performed them at a marriage, the birth of a child, our meals when we said grace, or our funerals upon death.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The church was also supposed to help the less fortunate and offer treatment to the sick, but at present, they didn’t often tend to these things. Every organization is vulnerable to the seep of corruption, and the church was no exception, even if they were supposed to be agents of God. But in all reality, the church lacked the funds to provide emergency food distribution.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, Father Rafiel’s church was one of the few churches in the kingdom that did have those means. I was donating to their cause under my pseudonym.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I reached the altar and said my prayers, specifically for the stability and safety of the duchy. After I finished, I called over to one of the clergymen. “Is Father Rafiel here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The father is out at the moment,” said the clergyman with a suspicious look. “Pardon me, but you are…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome back, Lady Alice!” Father Rafiel appeared, interrupting his peer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, Father Rafiel. It’s so good to see you again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What brings you here today?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a while since I saw you last. I’m sorry I didn’t arrange a meeting first.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not at all. Would you like to come in?” He gestured toward the small room off the main chapel area. It wasn’t a parlor, but a desk and chairs were inside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you go somewhere today?” I asked as we sat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, yes. I was making house calls in a nearby village.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. It’s just like you to keep yourself busy when there are patients who need you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t ignore calls for help.” He smiled softly at me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me.” The clergyman from earlier entered the room with tea. “Pardon me for my rudeness before. My name is Noryu.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, don’t worry. You looked a bit troubled when I asked for Father Rafiel. Did you have something you needed to speak with him about first?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, it’s just there are so many people who come here wanting to talk to Father Rafiel… Young women in particular…” He had a familiar troubled smile on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As you can see, our Father Rafiel is quite a handsome fellow. His heart is filled with love, and he can’t resist helping those in need. It’s no wonder people fall for his kind soul and good looks, but some of them are quite forward about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to chuckle at that. It was true—Father Rafiel was both sweet-natured and sweet on the eyes. I could easily see how young women would fall head over heels for him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, now! I told you to stop with that!” Father Rafiel chided Noryu.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I laughed again. “It sounds like you have your hands full with visitors then, Noryu!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll manage. Excuse me again for interrupting you.” He smiled wryly and excused himself from the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so sorry about that…” Father Rafiel sighed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No worries. It sounds like you have it rough, Father Rafiel.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Noryu and the rest of our clergy give me far too much credit. It just pains me that I can’t reciprocate those poor girls’ feelings…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? I thought priests of the Darryl Church were permitted to marry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are, but I’m afraid my life belongs to God. Ah, pardon me, but this is…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ah, that was right. Father Rafiel had never met Dean before. I had come to the church with Lyle and Dida before, though.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, forgive me for not introducing you sooner. This is Dean. He works with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of them exchanged a pleasant greeting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Likewise, I’m sure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I ask you a question, Father Rafiel?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. Go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why do you offer medical treatment? I wouldn’t think that unusual for a doctor of course, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, that…” Father Rafiel smiled sheepishly. “You can be straightforward with me. I know you’re wondering why a priest like me would be out doing such a thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now it was time for Dean to let out a sheepish chuckle. Father Rafiel was right on the money.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Once, it was the church’s responsibility to protect the people,” said Father Rafiel. “We fed, clothed, and cared for them when they fell ill, and we took in children whose parents had died. Once the churches were united under the kingdom’s power and we began to receive funds from the crown, that shouldn’t have changed. I’m not sure when it did, but…at some point, the priests began using the crown’s money to support themselves. The citizens became second in their hearts, and they protected themselves first.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A sad look came over Father Rafiel’s face. “I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t blame you for your surprise. These days, the Darryl Church doesn’t stand for what it should. The main church has forgotten our teachings and been blinded by riches, spending all their time involved with the war between political factions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you really sure you should be talking to us about that, Father?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, it’s the truth. I was once a central figure in the main church. But every day, I wondered what I was doing. The things I longed for were destroyed. I spent too much time in reality to dream. I couldn’t let down my defenses for even a moment or I’d be sucked into the power struggle and lose sight of myself. I started to despise who I’d become and fled here to escape. Now I do things in the way I want to. I can breathe easily.” As he spoke, he wore a clear, genuine smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So do you view the things you’re doing now as the true purpose of the Darryl Church?” asked Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that’s not for me to judge. It’s more that I became a priest so I could be more like a certain nun.” Father Rafiel shrugged.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This nun was a wonderful person. She took in a poor runaway like myself and gave me an education, and she took care of me when I was sick. As a young boy, I saw her as a true hero. I told her, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up.’ If she hadn’t recommended I join the church, I probably would’ve stayed by her side forever.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She does sound like a wonderful person,” I said. “I would love to meet her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unfortunately, that’s not possible. She has already gone to be with God.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I’m sorry…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Speaking of, you’re from a family of merchants, are you not? Have you ever met Duke Armelia’s daughter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This sudden question made my heart skip a beat. Had Father Rafiel discovered my identity?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not even once…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced at Dean, and I saw the caution in his eyes. I didn’t think his concern was about Father Rafiel uncovering my identity, but more so a suspicion as to why a priest would want to meet someone who held so much power. Dean couldn’t help but view the church and clergymen with a certain amount of shrewdness.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.” Father Rafiel let out a disappointed sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to just come right out and ask him. “Why do you look so disappointed?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s nothing. I was just thinking if your family had connections to her, I would love to meet her sometime. Forgive me for being so forward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But why do you want that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because I see in her the same will I saw in that nun whom I respected so much. After the sister died, the duke’s daughter established that new orphanage. They’ve taken in the children the nun who raised me had looked after. So, well, I’ve always wanted to meet that woman and thank her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The orphanage! I thought with surprise, trying very hard not to let it show on my face. “Oh, my. Have you been to the new orphanage?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, actually. It embarrasses me to say that I didn’t know about the orphanage until the main church allowed me to come back to Armelia. I’ve been in contact with Mina, the woman who works there, but she always worries about me. I only learned of the situation from her letters. So I have no right to go see any of them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, don’t say that. You should go visit them. I don’t know how Mina or the children feel, but I understand why you’ve shied away. But the more you run from a person, the less you understand how they feel.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At first Father Rafiel didn’t seem to understand my objection, but once I finished, he smiled sheepishly at me. “You’ve got me. At this point, I’m wondering who the real priest is between us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. I’m sorry if I sounded patronizing. It’s just, if you go to the orphanage, perhaps you’ll meet the duke’s daughter…if you’re lucky. I’ve heard she visits there from time to time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. You’re right. I’ll have to muster up the courage to go sometime soon.” At last, Father Rafiel looked a bit relieved.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 10",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 9: The Duke’s Daughter and the Scandal",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 9:The Duke’s Daughter and the Scandal",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "IT HAD ALREADY BEEN several weeks since I’d gone to town. After we came home, Tanya and the rest of the servants were quite cross with me, but the trip had been incredibly beneficial.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afterward, we worked on reinforcing the duchy’s borders. Not only did merchants travel back and forth across our borders at a more or less constant rate, but many citizens of other domains wished to move here. Since border security was a new endeavor, it took quite some time to establish, and there were numerous snarls to work through. We just had to untangle them as they came.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My first priority was the safety of the citizens, but in the meantime, I was still preparing to establish the trade school. I’d received a letter from Headmaster Luca telling me he had finished revamping the academy curriculum and now all they had to do was implement it. He had also written up a plan for the trade school curriculum.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In addition, we established the private service-oriented school that would be funded by the Azuta Corporation. The first few years would be crucial. I wanted all our institutes of higher learning to make a name for themselves from the start.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With all that on my plate, I headed for a table in the library, carrying a stack of books and papers. Even though my workload had increased, this stack was nothing compared to what I’d met when I first returned to Armelia. After all, these days you could see the floor of my office.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, the sound of the library door bursting violently open ruined the peaceful silence. The cause of the noise was Sebastian and Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady! There’s trouble!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What in the world is going on?” I heard the tension in my voice. But of course I was tense—only something truly bad could send those two into a panic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Darryl Church has resolved to excommunicate you!” Sebastian informed me breathlessly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was speechless for a moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did you say?” And then I let out a noise very closely resembling a scream. All the blood drained from my face and I felt faint. My heart pounded wildly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Darryl Church was Tasmeria’s official religion. Every citizen followed its teachings. In other words, the church and its clergymen were seen as representatives of God and carried enormous power throughout the kingdom—to a degree, even beyond that of the nobles. As proof of that influence, the children of Darryl Church clergymen attended the academies that had once been reserved solely for children of the peerage.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be expelled from the Darryl Church was to no longer be recognized as a true believer. It was synonymous with exile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone in this kingdom followed the Darryl Church. Those who didn’t were seen as heretics. Worse, those actively expelled from the church were seen as sinners and treated to every imaginable abuse. Not only would it be unimaginably shameful for the daughter of a duke to fall to such depths, it simply could not happen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With excommunication, I would lose all the trust and personal connections I’d built. Speaking in terms of my past life, the only thing I could compare it to was the Humiliation of Canossa. Just imagining the consequences of this made my head ache.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You destroyed a church without permission. And the destruction of a house of worship is an act against God. It is unforgivable.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Destroyed a church? Do you mean during the land readjustment?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had given orders for a church to be torn down, yes—specifically the old orphanage where Mina had lived with the orphans. But I’d had it destroyed because it was no longer being used as a church and the land no longer belonged to anyone. Instead, I had plans to build a bigger church elsewhere.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew what this was in truth—an attack against House Armelia. I wondered if Van, the pope’s son, had anything to do with it. Or maybe the pope himself? Or someone else in the second prince’s faction?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I just couldn’t believe they’d resorted to such a horrible maneuver.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll send the church a formal apology and a copy of my plans for building the new church. I didn’t destroy it—I’m rebuilding and relocating it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The responsible parties didn’t matter right now. I mean, they did matter, but they weren’t a priority. I had to do something to prevent myself from being excommunicated before I could start searching for the culprit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t bring these troubles to my parents’ doorstep, and of course I didn’t want to frighten my citizens. And there was no telling what damage this news might do to my company.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sebastian, prepare the missive to the church at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.” Sebastian bowed and rushed out of the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what do you have to tell me, Tanya?” At this point, nothing would surprise me. Although, I didn’t think anything could be worse than being declared a heretic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The domain to our north, Medinus, has declared they are blockading our trade route.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The northward road that cut through Medinus was the main trade route from Armelia to the capital. Meanwhile, if you wished to leave to the east, you would run into the sea, and to the west, you would have to cross treacherous mountains. Taking the southern route meant an incredible detour, if you wanted to reach the capital. Thus, we used that northern route for a great deal of our trade.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why?” I demanded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Medinus was a relatively small domain, and its northern half was all mountainous terrain. They’d also put a considerable amount of effort into developing their housing and tourism, so they had little free land. They therefore relied on the resources they obtained from Armelia through trade. Furthermore, as far as I understood it, House Medinus had remained neutral in the political conflict. That was why I had let my guard down with them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They wish to cut ties with a governor branded a sinner,” said Tanya. “And they wish to protect the value of their domain’s agriculture.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What agriculture?” I countered. “Their population is so large, they can’t afford to sell anything they grow!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was simply no way they could feed all those people on their own. That meant they had received a better deal from somewhere else. I saw the fingerprints of the second prince’s faction’s all over this one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t believe this is happening all at the same time…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This blockade from a neighboring domain would have been trouble enough. But I just knew the second prince’s faction had worked to ensure these things happened simultaneously. And this wouldn’t just affect our trade with the capital. It would impact all the ventures I was trying to develop throughout the rest of the kingdom. I had been pursuing these in order to diversify our income, so we wouldn’t be solely reliant on the capital. If they raised tariffs on imports now, it would put a serious dent in our profits.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rehme, how many days would it add to our trade route if we sent our merchants through the south? And how much added cost? Once you’ve found out, report back to me. And Tanya, summon Moneda and Sei at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I penned the formal apology to the church, I needed to talk to Sebastian and the rest of my council.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.” Tanya turned and left the room. I followed her. I was so dizzy, I almost stumbled and fell, but I managed to stay upright. This was no time to lose it. The way back to my study felt, for some reason, incredibly long. I kept wishing I would wake up to learn this had been nothing more than a bad dream.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But the tears running down my cheeks and the cold sweat running down my back proved that it was not. At any rate, I had to hurry.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My head was heavy. I had a throbbing headache—there were just so many things to think about. I pressed a hand to my temple as I flipped through the documents. After I received the notice of my excommunication, I’d sent off a letter of vindication that Sebastian and I had worked on together. The letter explained that the old church’s land had already been sold and that the building on the property had been old, run-down, and in need of serious repairs. I also explained that I held the deed and that I had not repaired the church because I was instead going to rebuild it on a separate piece of land.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite all this, the church had not rescinded my excommunication.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Talk about making me a scapegoat…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sebastian nodded. “Indeed. I tried to locate the clergyman who sold the church but to no avail. He might have been cut loose. The same goes for the one with whom we exchanged forms when you tore down the old church. Gone without a trace. The church also has special privileges, so there’s a limit to the amount of information we’re able to request as a duchy. I think it will be difficult to investigate this matter any further.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This could all be solved if we could just track down those clergymen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But we couldn’t exactly ask the church for a list of all their members. However, it was good that we’d at least established these individuals were nowhere to be found.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well? How are things within the duchy?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s only been a few days, but the people are expressing their anxiety.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t say I’m surprised. What about the officials?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The same. A handful have either resigned or are taking leaves of absence. But thanks to the overwhelming majority being so devoted to their obligations, enough have stayed on to maintain the status quo.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That didn’t surprise me. To anyone outside of my inner circle, it looked like I had destroyed a church without permission, which was a sin against holy ground. I couldn’t blame them if they thought I had abused my position and acted for my own benefit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Trade has steeply declined. The impact across the duchy is substantial.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Following Medinus’s declaration of a blockade, other domains belonging to the second prince’s faction had either followed suit or imposed higher tariffs in order to hamper our business in their territories. Their reasoning was always the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Consequently, the ventures I had been building elsewhere were taking huge losses, all for being associated with Armelia. If I couldn’t take care of this quickly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they all turned their backs on me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It went without saying that the Azuta Corporation was suffering, too. Everyone who had wanted to join our private membership now saw me as a sinner. I expect that soon, some—if not all—of them would begin speaking out against me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The only thing I could do to counteract our losses was raise sales tax on the goods yet to be shipped. Even though some of the noble clients who loved our products complained about the price increases, they hadn’t yet made any public comments about my situation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The same couldn’t be said about the citizens, though. Even before the price increase, it had been clear in a matter of days that sales had slowed. As if that wasn’t bad enough, our store employees were dropping like flies in the capital and in other domains. In other words, production had fallen along with sales.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On top of that, competitors who produced goods similar to ours were thriving. That had happened before, but now it was because people who had left the Azuta Corporation had gone to work for them. By the end of this, countless customers would likely decide they preferred those similar products over ones made by a company whose president had been excommunicated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I look terrible…” I murmured as I looked in the mirror. I had dark circles under my eyes, my hair was a proper mess, and my skin was dull. The part of myself that had lived in Japan scoffed at the idea of excommunication, but in all reality, the church in this world had unbelievable influence. They represented God; compared to them, the vaunted name of a mere noble house meant nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The organization of the church itself couldn’t interfere directly with a domain that showed no aggression toward the rest of the realm. It was, in other words, difficult to reach the position I had managed to. But I had done so, and I was now seen as a sinner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The second prince’s faction was also using my excommunication as an excuse to undermine my father. My mother was refraining from attending any events. Even the queen dowager couldn’t make public moves in my support, because she couldn’t ever be seen as defying the church. There wasn’t much of anything she could do to help me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I looked up at the ceiling. Ahh, my head really did feel so heavy. I had a feeling I’d be horrifically dizzy if I tried to stand up. It had only been a few days, but that was enough. I’d barely slept and I spent every waking moment trying to stay abreast of the situation and figure any way out of it. Since this was also a battle against time, the past few days had been extraordinarily stressful.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I looked back down. I definitely felt like I was having trouble focusing my eyes. But I just had to hang in there a little while longer. Nevertheless, a creeping doubt cast a dark shadow on my heart—that all my efforts would be in vain. The enemy I faced was just too powerful. If only I’d had more time to prepare… But I hadn’t.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you all right, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sebastian and Sei, with help from Rehme, were seeing to various things around the duchy and with the corporation. Tanya had gone to the capital to look into the church, and Lyle and Dida were ensuring our border security. Moneda was dealing with the bank and the merchant guild. The only one of my servants left by my side was Merida.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She frowned as soon as she saw me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do I look all right?” The muscles in my face were exhausted, but I managed a self-deprecating smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forgive me. I thought you might be feeling tired, so I brought you some chocolate and tea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.” I took a bite of the chocolate. Goodness, it was so delicious. It immediately melted away some of the fatigue. “Hey, Merida? I bet you’re getting a ton of invitations to work elsewhere, aren’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, well, only because I’ve been going around to all the different cafés.” She laughed. Hearing the warmth in her voice was so comforting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Probably some with exceptional offers too, no?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She gave me a surprised look for a moment and then laughed again. “Even if someone begged me to join them, I owe everything I’ve accomplished to you, my lady. I simply have no interest in leaving your side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not to mention that I hardly think it’s over for you yet, my lady,” she said with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I hope I don’t let you down, Merida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Almost everything was arranged—only one thing was still missing. I wouldn’t let things end for me like this. I couldn’t. I had to do everything in my power, leaving no potential escape route unexplored. Otherwise, they would catch me, or they would keep coming for me until they did. I had to figure out how to find absolution.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll excuse myself now, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had been so lost in thought that I forgot Merida was still with me. As she left, someone else came into the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean!” I was utterly shocked to see him. “Wh-what are you doing here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I came to help you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Help me? Even knowing my situation?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I said, I expected people to turn their backs on me, and I didn’t begrudge them for it; I was now viewed as a sinner. I certainly couldn’t believe anyone would choose to return to my side having already left it. In the modern legal terms of my past life, it would have been the equivalent of aiding and abetting a convicted criminal. A number of people had already quit the Azuta Corporation, and I’d received letters from officials across the duchy requesting meetings so that they could ask in person why I had not resigned my post.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course,” said Dean. “That situation is why I came.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To lend aid to a sinner? The Darryl Church may well retaliate against you for it. Why would you take that risk? I just don’t understand!” Maybe it was because I was exhausted, but I realized my tone of voice was far harsher than usual. It had been with Merida as well, now that I thought about it. Yet even though I was aware of it, I couldn’t stop.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’ve done it. Don’t you remember what I told you? I already belong to you. If I can’t help you during your time of need, when can I?” He said this as if it were the most natural thing in the whole world, and for a moment, I was completely speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m going to help you, and in order to do that, I’ve brought you just what you’ve been hunting for.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With those words, he handed me something—something I had been desperately searching for and that I had feared I might never actually get my hands on. It was the final piece of my salvation. I would never have imagined Dean being the one to give it to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I swiftly mastered my surprise. Yet I was still moved beyond words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So what’s your plan?” he asked with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Impish! He knew exactly what I intended to do.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Exactly what you think it is,” I said primly. “But now that you’ve given me this, we have everything we need to implement it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m glad to hear that. When will you have the opening ceremony?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re well connected, aren’t you? I can’t believe you heard about that already.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s caused quite a stir in the capital. I couldn’t help but overhear it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, it’s tomorrow. More importantly, Dean, I can’t believe this—it must have taken such effort. And you must have predicted what I was planning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At my prompting, Dean provided an overview of what he thought I was up to. Aside from a few minor miscalculations, he nailed it. I supposed that, as he was involved in the governmental affairs of Armelia, he had been able to glean some clues from what he knew had happened with the orphanage and the news of my excommunication. He’d also heard a few key rumors, and between all that, he had guessed my plan.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now, given all that, I’ve only this to say—tell me you aren’t planning on stepping out onto tomorrow’s battlefield looking like that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Looking like what?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure you know what I mean. You look dreadful.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dreadful? Well, he certainly wasn’t mincing words. But since I’d just thought more or less the same thing, I couldn’t deny it, either.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure the others have noticed as well, but they’re too worried to say anything. So I will.” Dean looked me in the eyes. “When I heard what was happening to you—and even before, when I worked at your side—there was something I couldn’t help but wonder. After the second prince broke your engagement, you threw yourself into your work for the citizens. Now, even with this new catastrophe…you’ve never once shed any tears, nor expressed the least weakness, nor even complained. You’ve swallowed down every last emotion and kept moving ever forward. It makes me wonder how in the world you could be so strong.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Strong…? I’ve never thought I was strong. Not even once.” Did not crying make me so? If it did, whose strength was it? Mine or…mine? Both of my selves were so entangled with each other that I couldn’t be sure.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You haven’t? Even though you’ve been so extraordinarily able to cut yourself off from your emotions?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Stop. Don’t keep asking me this, I thought, biting my lip. The words that came out of my mouth were far colder, far harsher than I expected. “Crying won’t solve anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps not. But it seems to me that continuing to bottle your emotions will soon leave you in a precarious position. That much is already plainly apparent on your face.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I…I couldn’t take it anymore. All those emotions I’d been suppressing exploded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then what would you have me do, Dean?! Wail and cry out for someone, anyone to help me? Will weeping and whining about my problems solve any of them? Of course not!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew I was taking my feelings out on him, but I couldn’t stop. I grabbed a handful of his shirt. He didn’t even look surprised. He only looked down at me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t even take a moment to cry! I couldn’t even when Edward abandoned me! Yes, it felt horrible! It felt so horrible and hurt so much that all I wanted to do was scream and sob!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Edward broke our engagement, my feelings for him had certainly cooled. I was no longer in love with him, no. That didn’t mean I’d felt nothing. I had been so anxious about what the future might bring. I had been frustrated, and I’d hated him so much. But if I had broken down to keen about it, I would have been disowned. Imprisoned. So I hadn’t cried, because I couldn’t. Instead, I’d had to rack my brain and come up with a way to negotiate with my father. Even when I successfully returned to the duchy, I had been consumed with restless anxiety.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had the memories of my past life, but I’d been nothing more than a typical office worker back then. I’d never worked in government before, and again and again, I found myself in a position where I had no idea what I was doing and could only hope I was doing the right thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And now excommunication? Why? How dare they! Why should I have to accept such a ridiculous sentence?!” Tears started streaming down my face. “I’m so upset. I’m so upset, I don’t even know what to do! Why? Why? That’s all I keep thinking! It hurts so terribly, I just want to run away. All I want to do is scream and cry! Why?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I quickly turned my face away to try to hide my tears, but I couldn’t stop crying, so the tears just spilled onto the floor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My weakness makes my heart ache. We’ve come so far, and the citizens, and the people around me, they’ve made so much progress. But I ruined everything for them. I feel so utterly pathetic and so, so sorry that any of this happened. It hurts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My feelings were such a mess that I was just rambling at this point, my words a disconnected jumble. I just started saying everything I felt without even trying to sort through it first.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I’m supposed to cry and ask for help? In that case, it would be better for all involved if I just shut myself away somewhere to get out of everyone’s way. But even that would cause too many problems for my family. So I can’t just run away. I can’t take back the fact that I’ve been branded a sinner.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Right… What was the point in weeping and running away? Even if I dismissed myself from the Azuta Corporation and left Armelia, it wouldn’t remove the stain of my existence. Excommunication couldn’t be so easily dismissed. There was no taking it back. Not unless the church itself rescinded it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m ‘trying to be strong,’ so that’s why I’m not crying? No. I don’t cry because there’s no use in crying. And because I’m afraid that if I do, I’ll exhaust everyone’s goodwill. That’s why I don’t cry!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d already caused so much trouble for everyone. I couldn’t break down and risk losing their affection, too. Even though I knew they weren’t the type of people who would hate me for such a thing, I couldn’t shake the fear and the doubt.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not strong. I only want people to think I am. But I’m such a pathetic human being, I can’t even accomplish that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then I started full-on sobbing. I fell against Dean’s chest, still clutching a fistful of his shirt, and wept. I felt him tenderly wrap his arms around me. It was so warm. On one hand, I was crying my heart out, and on the other hand, my common sense kept begging me, “Get away!” It was telling me not to whimper and cling to him, not to show him my weakness. Until now, my heart had been protected by an impenetrable fortress. If I let him through those walls…and if he betrayed me…there would be no coming back from that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I was ever going to be free from Dean, I had to push him away now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And yet, impulsively, I ignored all reason and clung to his warmth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was pathetic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was foolish.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t learned a thing, not even after how I had suffered before. Yet the truth was that his warmth comforted me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was the first time I had really cried since I’d regained the memories of my past life. All of those conflicting emotions had now surfaced.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then Dean spoke. His words were frank, his voice serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your strength is beautiful. But I don’t want you to push yourself. None of us do. Perhaps it’s only natural that you’re hesitant to show us your vulnerability after what you endured and because of your present position. But your refusal to share your pain with those closest to you only makes them worry.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I’m one of those people. You looked so frail when I came into this room. It was like you might at any moment disappear. It frightened me to see you like that. I know words won’t be enough to reassure you. So I’m going to keep reassuring you through my actions. Now stop swallowing your troubles and keeping them all to yourself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It felt like being lectured by Father. But I was painfully aware of what he meant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That night, after crying so hard for the first time in so long—or perhaps harder than I ever had—I slept deeply. Dean promised me he would help me with my final preparations, and I gratefully accepted the assistance so I could rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The following morning, I stood in front of the mirror and took myself in. My eyes were still a little red from all the tears, but I looked so much more at ease.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry for asking this of you, Father Rafiel and Mina…”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-not at all! I did what anyone would’ve done, Governor…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was so grateful to the both of them. Immediately after I’d received notice of my excommunication, I’d summoned both of them to see me. I had done so as part of an effort to keep the citizens calm in the wake of what was about to happen. Neither of them had had any idea that I was actually Duke Armelia’s daughter, so at first, they had both been quite stunned—especially Father Rafiel, who had expressed such desire to meet the duke’s daughter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I felt bad, honestly, and also a little awkward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Obviously, Father Rafiel had heard about the excommunication, since he was affiliated with the church. He immediately used his connections to investigate how we might get the excommunication rescinded. I appreciated it so much. When I’d explained everything to Mina, she had been just beside herself. They each thought this situation was somehow all their fault. I’d expected that reaction and felt absolutely terrible for having to involve them at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The reason I asked you here today is likely obvious. I need a favor from each of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-of course. What is it? I’ll do anything I can. Anything…” Father Rafiel’s gaze sharpened, but I couldn’t back down now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hate to dredge up painful memories…but, Mina, I would like you to tell people what really happened when the church was sold. And make a show of it, if you would. Essentially, I need you to explain that the holy church where you lived was sold to people involved in human trafficking, but you refused to leave, at which point the traffickers harassed you endlessly. After I learned of your situation, I had the traffickers arrested, but due to the harassment, the church had fallen to ruin, so I decided to rebuild it in a safer location. Tell them that although the new church hasn’t yet been opened to the public, there will be a grand reopening soon. And tell them that I will be there for it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mina stared at me curiously. “That’s what you want us to say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I’m sure people will look at you like you have two heads. In fact, I’m nigh positive they will. They may doubt you or accuse you of lying, but I still want you to tell the truth to as many people as you can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course I will! I’ll start spreading the word right away! I’ll go to every corner of the duchy to tell your story!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With Mina’s responsibility squared away, I let Tanya show her out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve since gone to the orphanage, yes?” I asked Father Rafiel.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have. Thank you so much for encouraging me, Lady Iris.” He gave me a wry smile. “But right now I’m far more concerned about you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes…I have a favor to ask of you, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, it will depend on what it is, of course. But I’ll do everything I can. I do need to tell you something first, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My connections in the capital have cut ties with me. Not only that, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they’ve painted a bit of a target on my back.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because you’re the priest of Armelia’s main church?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, because they now know of my connections to the orphanage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But how?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suspect Noryu was behind it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Noryu? Ah, that other clergyman at your church?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Apparently, he’s been reporting on me to the head church this whole time. I confirmed as much before my contacts cut me off, and I have physical proof as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well, there’s only one thing I have to ask of you. But I’d rather Noryu didn’t know about it. I certainly don’t want him interfering.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shall I send him elsewhere for a while? He does answer to me, so it wouldn’t seem especially suspicious if I sent him on an errand.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a good idea. Let’s have the academy play along, too. Although, Father Rafiel, you’re a priest—are you sure it’s all right for you to be so sly?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean? I served at the main branch of the Darryl Church for quite a long time. I wouldn’t have survived without a bit of my own cunning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, then. How interesting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went ahead and asked him my favor. He agreed, just as Mina had.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A mere ten days after, the rumors had spread like wildfire to the farthest reaches of Armelia. Of course, they weren’t all positive. Some came from those who doubted the veracity of Mina’s story, and at other times, her story was twisted along the way. But I’d planted the seed, and interest in the newly rebuilt church was growing among the people.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I reflected upon it all as I approached that brand-new structure in a carriage. Mina sat across from me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much,” I said to her. “But please remember, I’m only the acting governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-oh, right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And please don’t tell the children about me. I don’t want them calling me Lady Iris while we’re playing. It would make me feel too distant from them—and that would be far too sad.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re going to come back?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course I am. I promised I’d help the children with their studies. And I have all manner of new picture books and other such for them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you so much, Lady Iris. I’m sure the children will be thrilled!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m glad. I suppose I’ll have to hurry up and take care of this so I can go visit them, then,” I said as I got out of the carriage.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was the day we’d been waiting for. The new church was complete, and the opening ceremony awaited us. Lyle, Dida, and Tanya would serve as my bodyguards while I participated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The new church rose before me. Even though it was supposed to be a sacred place, I felt something like a hero striding into the castle of a wicked king. Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration. At any rate, I had a responsibility—I needed to bring ease to the souls of my citizens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 11",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 10: The Duke’s Daughter Counterattacks",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 10:The Duke’s Daughter Counterattacks",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "TWILIGHT HAD FALLEN. Usually, at this time, the taverns were packed, but instead, the people had gathered outside a church. The brand-new structure looked dim in the growing darkness, but that only contributed to its solemnity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In attendance were the presidents of famous companies, town mayors, and other influential people, as well as a sea of ordinary citizens. Most of the crowd were those who lived in Armelia’s capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though the new church’s chapel was exceptionally large, it was packed to the brim. All the pews were filled, and people stood in every free inch of space, spilling out the doors.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They had all felt terribly anxious upon hearing their governor had been excommunicated. Many had likely come in hopes of having those fears assuaged. They had also come because of the rumors, the ones that said their governor had defied the church in order to protect orphans—the very ones now under the care of the new state orphanage. That orphanage was surprisingly well known throughout the capital, and its matron was seen as a credible source. At the same time, the citizens had a hard time understanding why the governor and the church had fought about them at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last, the priest appeared and approached the altar. Once he took his place, the pipe organ began to play a hymn. Its beautiful song lifted the people’s hearts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The priest offered his prayers up to God and entreated everyone to join him. Then he began his sermon.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“God instructs us to love one another. Humans are weak creatures. We cannot live alone. But when you treat your fellow citizens with love, you may join hands with them to build a better world. That is why God urges us to forge connections with one another.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Though his voice was soft, his words echoed throughout the church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yet though we ought to love one another, we must not turn a blind eye when we witness wrongdoing. To love one another and to rely on one another are two separate things. When you see an injustice, you must have the courage to set it right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A murmur washed through the church. “You must set it right.” Was he talking about the duke’s daughter?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We must look at the world with a clear heart. What is wrong? What is right? Extend your hands to those who do right, even if they have been ostracized by others. This I bring to you from God’s teachings, from which love overflows, and so shall we pray, filled with righteous light.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once the priest finished his sermon, he left the altar. It seemed the opening ceremony had ended. Then a woman stood and approached the altar. She wore a pure-white dress, although it was so simple, it looked more akin to the vestments of the church rather than a dress. Despite these modest clothes, she was so beautiful that no one could take their eyes off her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you so much for participating in the opening ceremony today.” Her voice was clear, and she spoke with perfect gratitude.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "People began whispering, “Who is that?” If you listened carefully, you could hear some gasping a name: “Alice!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The woman continued, answering the unspoken question. “My name is Iris. Iris Lana Armelia. I am Duke Armelia’s daughter and the current acting governor of this duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The murmuring grew louder, not only because the acting governor was present, but because she had been branded a sinner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please listen, my people. I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here. In short, the priest gave me permission to attend, so I did. And as he said in his captivating sermon… I ask only that you listen to me with clear hearts and decide for yourselves whether I am right or wrong.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her clarion voice suited the atmosphere. She conducted herself with dignity, and the confused shouts trailed off. Many people still whispered among themselves, however.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Armelia is so blessed. Our people follow God’s teachings and treat each other with love. But at times, there are those whom that love doesn’t reach, and there are people who live in unfortunate circumstances.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris folded her hands as if in prayer. “I met such people not long ago. They were children who were fortunate enough to have met a compassionate nun and lived happily in an orphanage established inside of a church in our own capital. Then the sister passed away and the land upon which the church stood was sold. The orphans no longer had a place to stay and were mistreated by the heartless actions of those who bought the land. Even though they were innocents, they were subjected to the cruelest of actions. Are there any here who have heard this tale?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few people spoke up. Yes, they’d heard of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My family did not see what had happened, and that was our sin. We are responsible for protecting our citizens.” As Iris spoke, a single tear streaked down her face. That exquisite girl in her simple dress shedding tears for her people: it was a beautiful sight indeed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We cannot make the same mistake. House Armelia is meant to protect you, all of you. Our first step toward that goal is this new church. It will be a place to keep the children safe. It will also be a symbol of our commitment to you and your bright future. I’ve been told my sin was tearing down that old church. But who did I sin against? Should I have turned a blind eye on the citizens, who it is my duty to serve? Should I have abandoned a church already fallen to ruin and let it decay even further? Would that have been right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her voice grew more and more emotional. Everyone listening was swept up in that emotion. If she was telling the truth, who were the real sinners here?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am a devout follower of the Darryl Church. But I am also the governor of Armelia, tasked with serving my citizens. God watches over and protects us, but we have free will and it is our obligation to act. We cannot only hope that happiness will rain down from the sky. Everything depends on our actions and our will. Those who think evil is unavoidable are practicing evil themselves. Those who do not resist evil are enabling it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Those of you who just admitted you knew what was happening to those children—what did you do to help them? Did you speak up and call on anyone to save them? My two hands are small, and I have but two eyes and two ears. Yet I have officials who support my efforts, and I have all of you here. If you call, I will answer. If I find the weak, I shall protect them. If they cry out from pain or danger, I shall help them. It is my utmost desire to do everything in my power to ensure every last citizen of Armelia lives a blessed life. But I need your help.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One person began to clap. Then another, and another, and suddenly the entire room was filled with applause. It came from outside the church as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If the citizens of Armelia followed the duke’s daughter, their lives would be rich and full. She would protect them, no matter who threatened them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Such were their thoughts. They didn’t question the basis of that belief. They were so moved, they didn’t care why. They blindly thought it, swept up in her energy and in the atmosphere of the new church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“God bless you,” the priest said to Iris. She bowed to him, accepting his blessing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then she turned back to the crowd and bowed toward them once more.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Propaganda, noun, information used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The speech I’d just given was exactly that. I’d used the rumors Mina had spread to get people to sympathize with me and used the teachings of the church to turn my plight into a question of morality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One of the most reviled men in my old world’s history once said that the key to propaganda is appealing to people’s emotions. The most effective way to popularize a point of view is to keep the dogma simple and find slogans that can drive the movement forward and be repeated over and over, until every last person understands its meaning.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Had I accomplished my end? That had been the first speech I’d ever given in my life. I’d just have to hope it was a success. They’d applauded, after all. I’d also helped myself build an atmosphere by scheduling the ceremony at twilight, when the dim lighting would accentuate the solemnity of the event.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That was a moving sermon, Father Rafiel. Please continue taking care of the orphanage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The favor I’d asked of him that day I summoned him had been to become the priest of the new church and the director of the orphanage.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. I’ll do my very best,” he said. “Your speech was also quite moving.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, how’s Noryu faring?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I let him go. He seemed relieved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafiel had sent Noryu on an errand the day after I met with him and Mina. The errand had been to deliver medicine to a town near the capital. Father Rafiel had often taken care of this delivery himself, occasionally with Noryu’s help, so it hadn’t raised the man’s suspicions. We had, however, sent someone to follow Noryu to keep him busy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "First, my agent had been responsible for causing a disturbance on the road. A carriage breakdown or a blocked road or something like that. Anything that would delay Noryu’s progress from the capital. When he finally arrived, it turned out that a contagious illness was ravaging the town; the residents were quarantined and not allowed to leave, so as not to spread it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, there hadn’t actually been an illness. But since the residents of the town were indebted to Father Rafiel, they had readily agreed to the charade, and the attending doctor had been played by Headmaster Luca. The headmaster had told Noryu that, as he had been in contact with an infected person, he would also have to enter quarantine. Apparently, Noryu had been very worried that he would fall ill.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then, of course, there had been more disruptions on the way home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All in all, Noryu had been out of town the entire time we planned this ceremony, so he had been unable to interfere.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had strengthened my position in Armelia, so I could now afford to leave it for a while. Thus, I headed for the capital. I had to take care of this problem at its source.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Still, my doubts continued to swirl in my head. The only reason I had been able to give that speech with any confidence was because of Dean—and because of the two documents he’d helped me secure, which I’d kept close to my heart ever since. These documents were the final piece of the puzzle that I had been searching for, and it was thanks to them that I had been able to make Father Rafiel the new priest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Until Dean gave them to me, I’d wondered how in the world I could get hold of them—I’d even considered asking my mother or even the queen dowager for help. How had he acquired them?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you all right, my lady?” Lyle asked in a concerned tone, interrupting my thoughts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I’m fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We can rest in a little while. Please hang on until then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We were on our way to the capital. Since speed was of the essence, we weren’t taking a carriage and I was on horseback instead. I didn’t know how to ride, so Lyle was holding the reins. I’d thought I’d be fine since I’d put up with the intensity of our trip home, but that had been naive. I’d had no idea riding was such a bumpy affair. I missed solid ground.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida, Lyle, Tanya, and my family’s other guards were with me. Dean had other affairs in need of tending and had needed to leave partway through the journey. He would meet up with us when he finished. In other words, everyone else was a skilled rider, so I was the one holding us back. But the sacrifice was worth it; we made the trip in record time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once we arrived in the capital, I somehow managed to walk into my family’s home even though my legs felt like jelly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome home, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The servants greeted me and ushered me inside the foyer, where my family awaited.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m home. Father, Mother, Berne… I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.” That was the best I could do at that moment. I still felt like I was moving and was overwhelmed with vertigo.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Father immediately noticed something was wrong and gave me a concerned look. “You got here awfully quickly. Are you all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’m fine…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You need to rest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-okay…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did as I was told and promptly slept for a few hours. When I woke up, Elulu showed me to another room—the one where we normally had tea. But the air wasn’t so relaxed today. My family was already seated, and so I took the remaining empty chair.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As I said before, I’m incredibly sorry about all the trouble I caused,” I apologized.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, don’t worry. None of us could have imagined that Darryl Church would go to such lengths,” Father said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your father’s right. You stand falsely accused,” Mother agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Their warm words made a lump form in my throat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All your preparations for the inquiry are complete,” Father said. “The queen dowager received your information with a good deal of enthusiasm. The church aggressed against you first, so there’s no need to hold back. I want you to give this your all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I will,” I promised. “By the way, Mother. Dean gave me a letter for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my. From Dean? Let me see it, dear.” My mother looked quite intrigued as I passed her the envelope, and she opened it on the spot. She giggled softly when she was finished reading it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did he say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, he apologized for using my name without permission. Apparently, that’s how he got his hands on those items you needed—the ones from the church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He did? I’m sure that helped,” said Berne. “I hear the church is in dire straits because attendance is down after you stopped going to their charity balls, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And if no one was showing up, the church was sorely wanting for donations. They were definitely hurting. But…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure this is all right, Mother?” I asked. “What if they come after you next?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Never fear. I’ve already matched last year’s donation from our house. Besides, charity balls aren’t the sort of thing one is required to attend. I made sure to send letters notifying those whose functions I missed. ‘As the mother of an excommunicated woman, I fear my presence at your party would be a distraction, so I will not be attending.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at my mother’s frank response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, once we’ve solved this problem, I’ll go ahead and start turning up again. That was one of the conditions upon which the church agreed to surrender those documents to Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He had predicted my ploy, so he used my influence as leverage. I don’t mind it, though, not if he had to use my name in order to help you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Goodness. Dean really had made a bold move. Not only had he used my mother’s name without getting her permission, he had used her as a bargaining chip. And he hadn’t even told her until after the fact. It was a good thing she had decided to forgive him, but it gave me a headache just thinking about it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sister, I have news for you as well,” Berne said, interrupting my thoughts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Van wasn’t behind this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So I should just forgive him?” I glared at Berne, but he shook his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. I just wanted you to know I think that this can all be traced back to the pope himself. And to a person he’s lately associated with—a certain merchant who is particularly friendly with Lord Monroe.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you think this merchant might be pulling the strings behind the scenes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps. I found it hard to believe even the pope would dare to attack a duke’s family so openly. So I spoke with Van. Of course, there were things I couldn’t come straight out and ask, but the thing that really caught my attention was when he mentioned that merchant. Apparently, the merchant requested an audience with the pope several times, and he notably did so right before the day your excommunication was issued. I just can’t believe it’s a coincidence.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Father, do you know anything about this merchant?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m investigating him, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Good. I had to admit I was impressed with Berne’s actions. He’d been an excellent spy, getting so much information from our avowed enemies. He’d done such a good job, in fact, that I felt compelled to go ahead and ask the real question on my mind. “I have to wonder, was Prince Edward involved in this matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not to my knowledge. However…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s quite difficult for me to say this, but…he’s exceptionally unhappy that you’ve received the queen dowager’s backing. Shall I call it a grudge? And he’s complained about you to a number of people, asking what could be done. Then, once he heard about this incident with the church, he made his move. I believe he personally hired a number of your employees for a new venture of his own.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Oh, my…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What a pathetic little man. Although, sales had dropped largely because of the rest of this matter, so it wasn’t entirely his fault.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m going to do everything in my power to get the Azuta Corporation back up to speed once this is all over. Thank you for the information, Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now, Iris, dear—why don’t you go ahead and have dinner with us and then go to bed early? Tomorrow’s a big day. You need a nice, hot meal and all the rest you can get so you can claim victory on the morrow.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was right. Tomorrow was the big day. I had felt like a soldier heading to war the day of the Foundation Day celebration, but this battle would be even more intense. Tomorrow would decide my fate. If I lost, there would be no coming back for me. It would be the most important day of my life.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I readied myself and headed for the palace. I chose a simple dress, just as I had when I gave my speech at the church. Today, my father would face an inquiry about this entire situation. Since my excommunication had affected the nobility on such a large scale, they wanted him to provide an explanation as the person responsible for me. You might liken it to a company president demanding an explanation from a manager about their subordinate’s behavior.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This inquiry would decide my fate. Best-case scenario, I would be disowned or put under house arrest. In the worst-case, I’d be thrown in jail or given the death penalty. Obviously, a number of nobles were invested in the matter, and they had gathered to spectate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had only Lyle and Dida with me as my bodyguards as I entered the palace. To be honest, I hadn’t been formally invited. As I was technically under house arrest, I couldn’t exactly be invited, but I had come with the queen dowager’s permission. As such, I took a route she had told me about so that no one would see me. I felt like a trespasser. Perhaps that wasn’t an incorrect statement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Duke Armelia, how do you expect to handle the heavy burden of overseeing our kingdom when you can’t even supervise your own daughter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That voice belonged to Queen Ellia. She was blaming my father for my conduct and meant to imply that he should resign his post as the prime minister.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some people who favored Queen Ellia began to snicker. Other nobles were swept up in the mood and murmured agreement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The queen’s right,” one said. “This is a terribly shameful incident for our kingdom. Is that girl the only one who bears responsibility?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has he ever had control over his house?” another asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father’s low voice cut through the noise of the crowd. “I have never supervised her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you think your failure to oversee her absolves you of guilt? You would shirk your responsibility?” Queen Ellia snorted. Her lecturing tone was haughty. “Did you hear that? The post of prime minister has always been held by the ducal house of Armelia. But now the people wonder if you should even bear the responsibility of your own duchy. Don’t tell me you’d run from that, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, she was threatening to take our domain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From the standpoint of the other nobles, they stood to benefit a great deal if they could get their hands on a domain experiencing as much growth as ours now was. If anyone in charge of a domain neighboring ours approached Queen Ellia to make their case, there was a good chance they might be given permission to wrest it from us. I could see these very people emphatically nodding in agreement with everything she said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Another wave of murmurs washed through the crowd. My father swept his glare over them. His cold gaze silenced them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I shirk no responsibility. I only said that I do not supervise my daughter. And that is because I knew my daughter, my noble line, would do the right thing as she saw to Armelia in my place. I speak from my position as prime minister when I say that I did not misjudge her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Father,” I whispered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing that firm statement gave me the courage I needed to walk forward. My hands trembled as I took my first step. I’d been waiting in a hidden room that gave me a view of the audience chamber, so I didn’t even have to pass by anyone—yet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The hallway twisted and turned as I made my way to the audience chamber and stood outside the door. The guards waiting outside were flustered at first and cried “Halt!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But then I showed them the letter I had received from the queen dowager, and they let me pass.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The second that the doors to the chamber opened, everyone turned and stared at me. Once they realized who exactly had interrupted this vitally important inquiry, the crowd erupted in shouts. The only people who weren’t surprised to see me were my father, the queen dowager, and Father Rafsimons Christopher.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I moved farther into the room. The audience chamber was ornate yet austere. As I walked through it, I was greeted by stern expressions on either side of the aisle. The royal family sat at the front of the chamber, facing the crowd—although today, only the queen dowager and Queen Ellia were present, along with officials from the Darryl Church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was especially terrified of these church officials, and my hands began to tremble again. And here I’d thought I’d finally summoned my courage!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Don’t worry, I told myself as I clenched my hands into fists. But I couldn’t stop shaking. The walk to the front of the chamber felt like an eternity, though I’m sure it only took a minute.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once I got there, my focus settled on one person. Father Rafsimons Christopher. He was a thin, intelligent-looking man who wore spectacles. His face was expressionless. But unlike the rest of the crowd, I had the impression that he was sizing me up, as if he was wondering if I might really turn this situation in my favor. If I was really going to use what he’d given me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The instant that thought ran through my head, my hands stopped shaking. I had remembered the man who had connected me with Father Rafsimons in the first place. I wasn’t about to waste all the effort he’d gone to for my sake. I had to live up to the trust he and everyone else had placed in me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stood beside my father. An empty throne loomed across from us, Queen Ellia and the queen dowager seated on either side of it. The Darryl Church officials sat in ordered seats in front of them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you here?” Queen Ellia’s cold voice asked, her eyes staring daggers at me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because I thought the best person to explain the situation would be the one most directly involved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Explain? No explanation will change the fact that you have been excommunicated from the holy Darryl Church. This inquiry has nothing to do with that. The sole purpose of our work today is to establish how Duke Armelia plans to atone for your sins.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pope Wilmots Lutasha—father of Van Lutasha, one of the second prince’s cronies—nodded emphatically in agreement. “Iris Lana Armelia. You destroyed a church, the holy ground of God, without permission. It was a despicable act for any person of faith—and even worse for one who stands above others and governs them. I’m sure God wept over your unspeakable deed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I agree, Pope Lutasha. Destroying a sacred sanctuary, a place of prayer, is most certainly a despicable act. I understand why God might weep over such a thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Queen Ellia and the pope looked equally confused as to why I was agreeing with their accusations.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the same token, I think that selling the land on which a church stands is equally impious. Wouldn’t you agree?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you trying to say?” Queen Ellia snorted with laughter and then covered her mouth with her fan to hide it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Exactly what I said, Queen Ellia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m asking what you meant by it. If destroying holy ground is wicked, could transferring it to someone outside the church be good? Of course not. Of course it’s impious.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Exactly. I agree. Yet here I have the deed of sale proving that the land the church stood on was sold.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I held up one of the documents I’d brought. It was the deed of sale I’d found when I looked into the human traffickers harassing the orphans. The traffickers were listed as the buyers, and the name on the line that said “Seller” was none other than the Darryl Church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The crowd that had grown so raucous suddenly fell completely silent. Those in the second prince’s faction tried to raise their voices again soon enough, but everyone had started to sense where this was going.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was shocked to learn anyone would sell the holy ground upon which a church stood. Just as Your Majesty says, selling land reserved for a church is an appalling act of blasphemy. Yet immediately after the church’s caretaker passed away, the land upon which it stood was sold. Moreover, the signature of the seller belongs to a priest of the Darryl Church. What do you make of that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nonsense! A priest of the church would never sell holy ground! Let alone a church! It must have been someone impersonating a priest, which is a very serious crime!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I also wanted to believe it wasn’t the case. How dare a servant of God do such a thing? But it is in fact what happened. This church’s caretaker was a nun, and after she passed, the church fell to ruin and the new owners tried to force the orphans who lived there to leave.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, yes. I’m sure that’s the truth. How dare you doubt servants of God in favor of some random strangers? And you call yourself a noble? Honestly, it’s despicable.” Queen Ellia snickered, denying my claims outright.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As I said, I also wanted to believe. As everyone knows, I am the acting governor of Armelia. My father entrusted me with this position, and I have worked tirelessly to reform our government. I’ve completely revamped the tax system, performed a census, reevaluated every official in our employ…and registered ownership for every plot of land in our domain.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What of it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In order to build our land ownership registry, we worked with all landowners, including the church. If a party declared that they could not claim ownership of a parcel of land, then they were not registered as the owner.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though I hadn’t planned on having to use the census and registry like this, I was so thankful that I had taken care of them as soon as I had.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In our registry, the Darryl Church did not claim ownership of this land. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe that the Darryl Church had actually sold it. But I have the proof right here, in this document.” I held it up again. The seal of a Darryl Church priest was clearly stamped on it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The orphans who were looked after by the nun were still there, but the church had fallen into a heartbreaking state of disrepair. I contacted a priest of the Darryl Church and consulted with him over whether it would be better to tear that church down and build a new one in its place. Not only were the officials of the church made aware of my plan, I sent these plans to other kingdom officials as well. I have copies of those notices here, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see you have proof of these notifications to the kingdom, but do you have proof that you proposed this idea to the church?” Queen Ellia frowned, and her voice was razor sharp. “As I said before, perhaps you were working with an individual who was impersonating a priest? Or perhaps you conspired with someone after the fact to fabricate all this ‘proof’?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, she was demanding more evidence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I sent the plans directly to the palace, so those officials surely were not impersonators. Unless we should doubt the veracity of every interaction we have with the palace?” I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia snapped her fan shut, looking profoundly uncomfortable. “That’s enough! This is of no consequence. It appears you’re running your mouth to talk away your sins. But as I said, you have no proof that you engaged with a true member of the Darryl Church. No matter how much evidence you claim to have, I will not be deceived!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She wanted to tell me to give it up—but I spoke before she could.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do have more proof. Right here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took out a thin booklet, one that was very old and yellowed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what’s that?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Most of the people in the room didn’t recognize it, and they murmured to each other, confused. But as soon as the Darryl Church officials laid eyes upon it, all the color drained from their faces. They knew exactly what I held.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Any official of the Darryl Church can tell you what this is, because they know better than anyone: it’s a ledger of every single priest in the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Darryl Church was an organization, after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe layman’s terms were a bit inaccurate, but priests are like everyone else—they need some kind of income to live on. I’d been sure they had to have some manner of record of their employees in order to manage their payroll, and it turned out I was right.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was also a list of the priests who owned the various churches. Including the ones I’d spoken to, of course.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The name of the priest who signed the deed of sale, as well as the one with whom I communicated about rebuilding the church, are both here in this ledger. I was surprised to see they both held quite prominent positions within the Darryl Church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did you…” Pope Lutasha muttered in disbelief, staring at the booklet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This ledger was never to be taken off the premises of the main church, so they were all floored to see it in my possession. I’d known that no matter what evidence I presented, I might have been able to convince the nobles to take my side, but the church would never budge. They would vehemently deny that any member of their clergy would be capable of actually selling a church. This ledger was the only way to shut them up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I cannot imagine how you got that, but I doubt that booklet is even real!” Father Rafsimons spat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia’s eyes glinted. So predictable. “Yes, exactly!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Go ahead and check it yourself, Father Rafsimons. And anyone else who’d like to see it as well.” I took a step toward them. No one stopped me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I handed Father Rafsimons the ledger, and he flipped through it until he stopped at the final page. His eyes widened in shock as he stared down. “This is…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to admit, I was thoroughly impressed with his acting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I apologize. Yes, this definitely belongs to the church,” he said hesitantly. His voice was quiet, yet it resounded throughout the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Go ahead and see for yourselves.” Father Rafsimons passed the notebook to another church official, who passed it to another. At first, each one looked skeptical, but then, one by one, they nodded their assent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And just what makes you so certain?” Queen Ellia asked with clear annoyance. Her hands were shaking; she had to be incredibly angry.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The last page bears the mark of both the pope and the cardinals’ official seals. In order to prevent forgeries, these particular seals have never been made public. They are used only for internal documents such as this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Specifically, it bore the seals of the pope and the five cardinals directly beneath him, who were the highest-ranking officials in the church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is undeniably authentic,” I said. “I’m sure this will all go much faster if we just check in with the rest of those involved, don’t you think?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment those words left my lips, Lyle strode into the chamber escorting two men, i.e., the priests in question. Ah, pardon me—former priests. Tanya had used the full authority of my family in order to locate them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would the two of you please introduce yourselves?” I did my best to sound kind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“M-my name is Danon. I did clerical work at the church in the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By that, he could only mean one place: the church whose congregation comprised nearly half the capital’s population—the church that the royal family and the highest-ranking officials all attended. It was inextricably associated with the royal line.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I assisted the pope with all his needs. Regarding the sale of the land in Armelia, the pope gave me permission to sign the deed on his behalf. But then for some reason, I was abruptly fired…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Leinin,” said the other man. “I also worked at the church in the capital. I received the request from the governor of Armelia regarding the church in question and responded. But for some reason, I was also abruptly let go from the church following that. They told me it was because I gave false statements, but I was only following orders. I have a copy of the response we sent to the governor of Armelia, which had been approved by the church. If you have any doubts regarding the truth of my words, this document should clear my name.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The crowd grew even louder after hearing these two statements. I could feel it in my bones that the tide had turned in my favor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure the officials of the Darryl Church recognize these two men.” Naturally, this wasn’t actually a question.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The officials’ eyes widened, and they looked away awkwardly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have additional physical proof as well as witnesses, but I suspect that I have already sufficiently proved my innocence, don’t you think?” I asked calmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Queen Ellia bit her lip. Oh, I’m sure there were dozens of things she wanted to say to me circling through her head, but none of them would have been permissible in front of this crowd.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Likewise, Pope Lutasha’s face had gone deep red with anger, but he said nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager finally broke her silence. “Very well, then. I think we’ve seen this girl did nothing wrong, and I’m sure everyone here can agree with me. Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had posed a question just as I had, but it was clear she wasn’t truly asking for anyone’s opinion. In fact, she was putting an end to this inquiry once and for all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris Lana Armelia, the royal family hereby proclaims that you have done nothing at all to shame the name of House Armelia, a most noble family of our kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There. Her declaration sealed the deal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My thanks, Your Majesty. Might I say one last thing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? What else have you to tell us?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s in regard to who bears true responsibility for this incident.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia scowled. “You’ve already been absolved. I don’t imagine House Armelia will face any punishment for this either…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course not. That’s not what I meant. I was referring to the person who caused this misunderstanding. That is who bears the responsibility.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I lifted my head and stared straight ahead. Directly at Pope Lutasha.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“House Armelia has served the royal family for generations. We have a long history of loyalty and have been granted great influence for it. So to falsely accuse a member of that house of such egregious acts is simply unacceptable.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several people averted their eyes. Every lie they’d spewed before was coming right back at them like a boomerang.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now that my innocence has been proven, it would set a terrible example for our kingdom if the person responsible were to go unpunished.” I didn’t mention Pope Lutasha, but I continued to stare right at him the entire time I spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That rings true… What do you think, Ellia?” The queen dowager asked the queen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Queen Ellia said nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then. What does the Darryl Church have to say for itself?” The queen dowager gave an exaggerated sigh as she turned the question over to the officials.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several of them opened their mouths to speak, got flustered, and then closed their mouths again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I simply don’t understand this silence. As I was listening to Iris, a thought crossed my mind. I’m sure everyone here thought something similar. Whyever did the Darryl Church fire the priests involved and suppress evidence…if not to purposefully undermine Iris? Or perhaps even the entirety of House Armelia, one of the most prominent noble families in our kingdom? Just how do you intend to take responsibility for that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The entire room went deathly quiet, and then Father Rafsimons spoke up. All eyes turned to him. “With all due respect, Your Majesty… This was an utter failure on the church’s part. I would like to conduct a thorough investigation to identify all parties responsible and punish them accordingly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That will certainly be necessary. But how can we be sure you will in fact do this, when the officials of the church stand surrounded by a veil of secrecy?” The queen dowager’s expression was as cold as ice as she stared at the church officials. She cast the most intimidating pall upon the chamber, just as my father had.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But she was right. The church was so deeply embedded in our society that not even the most influential noble house could interfere with it. Moreover, since it was the only state religion in our kingdom, claiming every citizen as a believer, not even the royal family could interfere with its sacred status. If this investigation was mishandled, it could stir doubt among the citizens, and that could leave an opening for any number of malcontents to take advantage of.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Either way, the church couldn’t use God as a shield to escape responsibility for this scandal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For my part, if I didn’t use this opportunity to split the church off of the second prince’s faction, who knew what they would do to me in the future? At the very least, I had to get the pope to abdicate, especially since Van was so close to Edward. I had to sever that connection.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t let that happen, of course,” Father Rafsimons declared. “I am a priest who serves God, but I am also a citizen of the kingdom of Tasmeria, and therefore I have every intention of punishing those involved in this transgression, no matter their position within the church. And as proof… Lady Iris, since your innocence has now been proven, I assume you no longer need that ledger?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s correct.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would you mind giving it to the queen dowager?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. All I do is for the good of the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now, Your Majesty, please take that ledger into your keeping. As you know, it has a list of all the Darryl Church officials in the kingdom as well as their registered churches.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager blinked in surprise for a moment. The booklet listed which church each official was employed at, as well as their positions. It was a glimpse inside the inner workings of the church, hence why it was never permitted to leave the premises. Her reaction indicated that she knew full well the value of what she held.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I recognize your commitment,” she said. “You have my confidence. Now, when you say those responsible will be punished no matter who they are—do you include yourself?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. I shall notify everyone in the church’s employ, as well as the royal family and the nobility, that whoever is found to be responsible shall be punished to the full extent that the royal family allows.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pope Lutasha finally came back to his senses and cried out. “Father Rafsimons! What gives you permission to—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Father Rafsimons only turned a cool gaze toward the pope. “Pardon me for overstepping my bounds, but I have no other choice. We cannot turn a blind eye to the unspeakable treatment Duke Armelia’s daughter received as a consequence of these false accusations. You do understand that, don’t you, Your Holiness?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The pope was silent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Look around. The people of this country doubt us. That in and of itself should never have happened. In order to rebuild trust with our followers, we must ensure this never happens again and severely punish those responsible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well put,” said the queen dowager. “Now that you’ve said as much, I assume you won’t mind if I place you in charge of the investigation, Father Rafsimons?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It would be my pleasure.” He bowed deeply to her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But!” Pope Lutasha raised his voice in a panic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen dowager turned her frigid gaze on him. “What has you so flustered?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please reconsider! Does anyone truly deserve punishment for this? Of course it’s possible that some individuals covered up misdeeds that were inconvenient for them, but—can’t we simply give Your Majesty a report after we’ve conducted a fair investigation?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry to say, Pope Lutasha, but as Father Rafsimons just said, at the moment, we cannot trust the word of anyone from the Darryl Church. Father Rafsimons has pledged to hold himself as accountable as everyone else, and so I have asked him to take charge of the investigation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I will hear no further arguments on the matter. Father Rafsimons, I am counting on you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“With God as my witness, I shall follow through.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I may speak, there’s something else I’d like you to investigate as well, Father Rafsimons,” I said, speaking loudly and clearly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The church’s flow of funds.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean…what happened to the money the church received when they sold that holy ground in Armelia? Yes, I shall include that as part of the investigation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’d like you to. However, there’s something else on my mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oho?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They received quite a sum for the land that the church stood on, yes, but they also receive large sums of money from the nobility in the name of donations. Yet they begged my mother to attend their charity balls, lest they receive too few donations to continue operations. What is the meaning of this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You intend to notify the nobility of this incident in order to regain their trust, yes? In that case, I think this matter also requires thorough investigation. As governor of Armelia, I have of course made my own donations, and I do not begrudge them in the least. I’m sure now that my innocence has been proven, my mother will feel the same way. But I fear something similar will happen again unless we get to the bottom of this matter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I think you speak some unfortunate truths, Lady Iris.” Father Rafsimons’s face was bitter. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was touching on a sensitive subject or because we hadn’t discussed this beforehand in our meeting. Either way, I had no intention of stopping.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Also, I have a concern about the Azuta Corporation. Please excuse my frankness, Pope Lutasha, but how much is your salary?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?! How dare you ask a servant of God such a vulgar question!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t ask it because I want to, but this is an important matter. This year, you’ve spent about the same amount purchasing Azuta Corporation products as some of the richest nobles. I have to think your salary is quite hefty. Father Rafsimons?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It isn’t,” said Father Rafsimons.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, then, Your Holiness, how in the world did you afford to spend so much on our products?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What cheek!” the pope snapped. “I would do no such thing!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t come right out and say he’d used the money from the sale of the church to fund his luxury spending spree, but I saw the doubt and suspicion crossing people’s faces, so I knew the seed had been planted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” I said, “because to stand here and accuse you of such a thing without proof would be to do the exact same thing the Darryl Church did to me. Father Rafsimons? Please conduct a thorough investigation to discern where those funds went.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is there anything else, Iris Lana Armelia?” the queen dowager asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, nothing.” I shook my head and bowed to the queen dowager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. I hereby order the officials of the Darryl Church to be placed under house arrest until the investigation is completed—especially Pope Lutasha and the cardinals.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The pope opened his mouth to say something but then decided not to. Did he want to once again claim innocence, or was he trying to hide something? I felt momentarily anxious about it. I’d thought he would put up more of a fight, so his easy acquiescence made me nervous. Still, I had successfully struck back against the church. And I was sure that Pope Lutasha could expect a most exacting investigation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, the inquiry had come to a close.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wish you wouldn’t have made my heart race like that!”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? You didn’t have faith in me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafsimons chuckled wryly at my question.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It had been a week since the inquiry. In that week, the pope and his allies had been purged one after another. They weren’t excommunicated, but they were removed from their posts, so it was in the end a similarly severe punishment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The investigation of church funds was still ongoing, but I was confident that these men would face the full extent of the kingdom’s punitive system once those crimes came to light.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not it. I was just surprised you brought it up during the inquiry. Now I think I know how a prey animal feels when cornered by a predator.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had a good reason for saying it there. I had to cast doubt on the church in front of the entire nobility. That’s rendered it far more difficult for his allies to plot any resistance in the open.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In a single moment, I had ruined every personal connection and ounce of trust the pope had ever earned. Even if he tried to plot against me again, no one would dare cooperate with him in fear of earning my suspicion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If he does try anything again, he’ll have to have an extraordinary reason for doing so. It might be necessary to root out the rest of his ilk as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You certainly have a point.” Father Rafsimons let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well? Are you satisfied with the outcome?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think so. We were able to oust the pope and his faction, and now we’ll be able to start rooting out the rest of the corruption in the church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If you had to describe the relationship between Father Rafsimons and me, the most suitable word would be “accomplices.” Although it had seemed we were on opposing sides during the inquiry, we had been in on it together behind the scenes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This accomplice was the final piece I had been missing that Dean had provided for me. I had desperately needed definitive proof of the church’s involvement before the inquiry. However, that proof had been incredibly difficult for me to get, since I had been excommunicated. But Dean had given me access to the exact person I needed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now you can have what you wanted—the church is at last headed down the righteous path,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Father Rafsimons had been deeply unhappy with the church’s direction as of late. He had risen through the ranks but had been unable to be elevated any further due to the war between internal factions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed… I’m ashamed to admit it, but the degree of corruption in the capital’s church was truly incredible. Clergymen simply cannot start acting like nobles. Getting caught up in worldly indulgences and embezzling money from the sale of a church is a blasphemy upon blasphemies. If the church had continued on under those people, it would’ve lost the people’s trust sooner or later. And all because those people had been enabled to neglect their duties. I intend to set things right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m counting on you, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose now it’s my turn to be tested, hm?” he said with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And did I live up to your expectations?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was the one who had provided me with the ledger, of course. And since it was absolutely forbidden to take the booklet off church premises, he had taken an enormous gamble—a profound risk—to help me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Also, while I no longer had them, he had given me leverage against him in the form of documents with his signature. That was how he had proven his trustworthiness as an accomplice. He had vowed not to betray me, and I had vowed the same to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have. So now it’s my turn.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t express my gratitude. I swear that House Armelia will do everything in its power to aid you moving forward.” In exchange for his cooperation, I’d promised to give him our full support once my position was recovered. “Well, I suppose I should be going now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, already?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I’m terribly busy with the company these days.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not only had my excommunication been rescinded, I’d received a full apology from the church. Immediately following that, I’d put a new product out for sale. It was a dessert using the dandelion coffee I’d had Merida make, a simple one that also used gelatin. It was a real hit, and sales were already up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had also put several new chocolate products out. Only those on the development team in the main headquarters of the Azuta Corporation in Armelia had known about it, so even if the employees whom Prince Edward had poached for his own venture had tried to copy our wares, none of them had the recipes for these new products. As such, our customers were returning.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As well, I’d heard that a number of my employees who had left me for Edward wanted to come back. As if I’d allow that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My clients who had turned their back on us were also returning, so soon enough, the copycat companies would have a hard time truly competing with us. I’d heard they were careless with their businesses anyway.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. Thank you for everything.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Iris left, Father Rafsimons let out a sigh. Talking with her always made him incredibly anxious. Her aura was more dignified and intimidating than that of any other noble he’d ever met—and coupled with the business acumen of a merchant at that. He had no idea how anyone could ever look down on her.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. He had a feeling it was his other accomplice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, pardon me, Dean. Lady Iris was just here. Did you miss her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, and I did it on purpose.” Dean chuckled and sat across from the priest in the seat Iris had just vacated. “Well? How are things?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Going so smoothly, it’s almost frightening, actually. Now that we’ve shaken things up, all the dust has come out into the open, thanks to Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.” Dean smiled gently.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafsimons was surprised to see that face. “Aren’t you going to ask for more details?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll see them when I read your report.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The tender smile vanished from Dean’s face as he resumed his usual expression. Father Rafsimons felt himself tensing up as well. He was always nervous when he met with Dean, almost more so than when he met with Lady Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know the risk you took to see this through,” said Father Rafsimons.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was a small price to pay in exchange for rooting out the corruption in the church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Was it really that small? The general public may not realize it, but anyone with an ounce of good sense has figured it out—that although you’re supposedly studying abroad, you were actually directing your faction to ensure that the inquiry ran smoothly to prevent the ouster of the prime minister. Now that I think about it, that must’ve taken quite a network.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness. Now that you mention it, you’re right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure that was a good idea? Normally, you prefer working from the shadows, but you really put yourself out there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I couldn’t let my grandmother be the one to put herself on the line this time. Since my father’s health has declined, she’s the head of the family. I couldn’t have her pitting herself against the church. That just would’ve made things worse.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose that’s a good point.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s the problem, anyway? I’ve simply returned from a long absence. It’s my choice to decide how I move forward at this point. And anyway, I’m not putting my name out there as much as you might think. If I did, I’d have all sorts of deadly problems to deal with, even if it was just one little rumor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not sure if measuring your well-being by the number of assassins actively hunting you is the right way to go, but all right, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, let’s get back to the main topic.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this prompting, Father Rafsimons took out a piece of paper and handed it to Dean. He read it over, checked it, and burned it. Then he read and checked the next document the priest handed him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, this is it,” Dean said. The priest nodded and added his signature, then placed his seal on the document.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The document they had just burned was the one Dean had exchanged with Iris before giving her the ledger. The document said: “All responsibility lies with Dean.” That was the collateral he had put up in order for the priest to give Iris the booklet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, if Iris had not emerged victorious after the inquiry and the first prince’s faction had not won, or the end result had not lived up to Father Rafsimons’ expectations, Dean would have taken full responsibility for the entire incident. Without this guarantee, no one who had worked so many long years at the center of the battle between political factions would have trusted some girl they’d never met before at the risk of their own life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "These two documents, the one they had burned and the one they held now, had been written to become valid at this time. They’d arranged beforehand that if Iris won Father Rafsimons’s favor, this new contract would be put into effect. That was the one he had just signed; it’d already had Dean’s signature on it. It stated that from hereafter, Father Rafsimons would swear his allegiance to Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When you first contacted me a few years ago, I thought I was dreaming,” said Father Rafsimons. “But I’m glad I listened to you and that I didn’t give up on the church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Everything has been arranged for you to move forward. Don’t slow down now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, of course not.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Footsteps echoed loudly as two men walked down a darkened hall.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite a lovely dungeon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy laughed in response to the man’s sarcastic quip. “Well, he is the pope. We couldn’t house him with the commoners.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was that line of thought that got him into this mess in the first place, wasn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man gave instructions to the guards, who opened the doors. The guards were standing watch over a special jail cell in which the pope was being held.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who’s there—ah, it’s you!” The pope’s eyes widened when he saw who it was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man was amused by his reaction, his lips curving up into a grin. “It’s been a long time, Pope Wilmots Lutasha. Although I suppose now you’re no longer a pope.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man was aware that the smile on his face was quite mean. He couldn’t help it; the knowledge that he was about to snuff out part of the church’s deep-seated corruption was just too sweet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Prince Alfred! Why are you here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why? Well, because you called me, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the briefest pause, the truth finally dawned on Lutasha, and he took several deep breaths to calm himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“After you joined forces with Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea, I was compelled to come forward in order to put a stop to it. We’re vying for power, after all. Presently, they have more influence in the capital. Once they had the church’s backing as well, I couldn’t just keep lurking in the shadows. They used your leverage to try to rid themselves of House Armelia, which they find most troubling. I’m not sure they’ll be pleased with the outcome, however, as not only did they fail in that regard, they also forced me to intervene more directly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-It’s as you say, Your Highness. Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea just used me! Please, have mercy on me, Prince Alfred!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At this, the prince laughed out loud. He couldn’t help it. He was far too amused. Then he stared at Lutasha like he was out of his mind. “You underestimate me. Were you instructed to do this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course not! Queen Ellia would never!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not who I meant.” The prince’s voice was ice-cold. Colder, actually, as it had borne no warmth in the first place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lutasha blanched at the audible menace in his tone. “What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m talking about the merchant. What was his name? Divan?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All the blood drained from Lutasha’s face. His reaction was so transparent that the prince had to wonder how he’d ever survived as the highest-ranking member in such a cutthroat world as the church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-how did you…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You were a pawn used by Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea. It’s most accurate to put it like that. You really should have predicted this would happen before you joined forces with them. Why did you just go ahead and do whatever they said? Didn’t it occur to you that all of you might have been manipulated?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lutasha’s mouth hung open.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your purpose was never truly to oust Iris. Well, they would have liked it if you succeeded. But all you really had to do was temporarily hamper the power of Louis de Armelia. You needed us focused on him to make it easier for Divan and his people to act. And his job was to disrupt the flow of income to House Armelia. I don’t know if you thought you’d be rewarded with a position of faith or nobility in that country—but then, I’m not asking you to answer me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But if you knew all that, then why…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why? I’ve been waiting for a chance to lance the boils like you. All I had to do was destroy your plans. I have to thank you, though—you spared me the effort and destroyed yourself first.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lutasha’s face twisted to an almost humorous extent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll return with more news when it becomes available. Until then, you may continue relaxing in this wonderful room of yours.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that the prince had said all he wished to say, Rudy escorted him out of the room. They heard the sound of Lutasha wailing behind them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Good thing I left when I did, the prince thought with a smirk.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve really made your move now, Prince Alfred,” Rudy remarked with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This was my best chance to get at the church. It’s used its faith as a shield for far too long. I couldn’t waste the opportunity.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, that’s not what I meant. I was referring to helping Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The prince gave Rudy an irritable look. “Well. She stood on the gallows for me. It was the least I could do in return.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even if you did save her from those false charges in the end, you still could have used the chance to strip House Armelia of its power. Yet you chose to help her. And you crossed quite a dangerous bridge to do so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes? What of it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d like to leave it at that, but unfortunately I can’t. Because of this, you’re officially in league with House Armelia. From now on, when the head of the Armelia family makes a move, the neutral faction who favors the king will start leaning toward our side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy was right. Once the neutral faction heard that the first prince had entered the fray in earnest, they would try to get in contact with him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But most of all, as her cousin, I want to thank you for helping her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t have to thank me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re quite fond of my cousin, aren’t you?” Rudy asked with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The prince let out a sigh. Had that been the conversation Rudy had been angling for from the start? “What about you? You seem to know an awful lot about her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I’m her cousin, after all. But not only have you kept returning for her temporary contracts, now you’ve become quite intimately involved with her. I can’t think of anyone else who would do such a thing for her sake.” Rudy laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was…surprised. She visits the orphanage often and plays with the children. And not as a noblewoman. She hares off to take care of other things by herself, too. Even if she were doing it without an alias, I’d hardly believe it if you told me.” The prince shook his head, still in disbelief. “I really only meant to work with her the once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It had all started from pure curiosity over how Armelia had developed so much so quickly. Once the prince had heard the acting governor was Iris, a girl who had been expelled from the academy, his curiosity had only grown stronger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’d seen her once while at the academy, but at the time, his only impression of her had been that she was cruel. She had unabashedly insulted Yuri Neuer to her face. Not only had the words themselves made Alfred raise an eyebrow, he had thought them bitingly harsh even knowing the circumstance that prompted them—and his brother’s involvement in it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And now that girl was an acting governor? Alfred hadn’t been able to fathom what the prime minister was thinking. He assumed the people surrounding Iris had to be impressive indeed in order for Armelia to have experienced such growth. He decided to go undercover to see the inner workings of the duchy. It had shocked him to see she really was the one giving orders. The realization had changed him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It was fascinating. I’d never been responsible for anyone but my own family, and nothing I was responsible for had ever felt outside of my control. Thus, I’d never felt a true sense of accomplishment. In fact, I felt nothing about everything, and nothing truly interested me. But being with her is invigorating. She has ideas I never could have imagined, and I can never predict what she’ll do. Everything about her broke my beliefs about the world as I knew it. She constantly inspires me with new innovations. Every time I’m about to see her, my heart beats faster, wondering what new thing she’ll show me. I honestly never tire of her, and I started wanting to just watch over her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In truth, he wanted to spoil her rotten. He wanted her to break down all her walls, but only for him, so only he would ever see her vulnerabilities. She hadn’t allowed it yet, but even that stubbornness was adorable to him. He really was terribly weak for her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To me, the people, money, government—I dealt with them all at a desk. Numbers were numbers and nothing more, nothing less. The people who worked for me were pawns on a chessboard and all I had to do was determine where to move them. But after I met her, I realized none of that was true.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, you’ve definitely softened.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha. You’re just going to come right out and say it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s why I’m worried.” Rudy’s tone suddenly changed. Before it had been teasing, but now it was serious. “The fact that you’ve grown softer is a good thing for you personally. But if you let yourself get carried away with your emotions, it could ruin your plan. That’s all I’m saying.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You just thanked me for saving your cousin. Now you’re telling me to let Iris get involved, Rudius Gib Anderson?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“First, I think it would take a lot more to take her down. Second, no matter what, I know I’ll always choose you, Alfred Dean Tasmeria.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy’s words hit Alfred hard. He was declaring his loyalty to the prince over his own flesh and blood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry,” Alfred said. “I won’t change the plans we’ve already set into motion. My mind hasn’t changed, not once, since we decided to remove both Ellia and the king from power. I won’t become like my father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy breathed a sigh. “I’m relieved to hear that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You never had anything to fear. My resolve has only strengthened since forging a bond with her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An incompetent king kills his citizens. My father loved my mother, and even though it’s a tragic thing that he lost heart when he lost her, it’s nothing to pity him for.” The king had lost his will to live with the death of Queen Sharia. He’d grown distant even from himself. That was how Queen Ellia and her father, Marquis Marea, had taken so much power from him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Like a fool, the king had turned a blind eye to Queen Ellia’s involvement in Queen Sharia’s death. Even worse, he’d been nothing more than her puppet as she tried to rid herself of both of Queen Sharia’s children—Alfred and Letty. Even though they were the children the king’s beloved late queen had given birth to, they had all but vanished from the king’s life. If the queen dowager hadn’t given them sanctuary, they would have suffered the same fate as their mother and died by Queen Ellia’s hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I saw Iris risking it all, putting everything on the line for her duties, my conviction only deepened. The king is ill, and there’s nothing to be done for him now. Sooner or later, he’ll have to abdicate, and I will fulfill my sovereign duty to rid this kingdom of that corrupt filth.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even if it means taking my own flesh and blood down with it, he thought. At this point, his filial bond with his father was nothing more than a burden. The only person he truly thought of as family was his sister, Letty. Removing the king from power wouldn’t trouble him in the least.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ahh, that’s why… he thought, suddenly realizing something. Letty had also mentioned she thought he was softening. Only now did he realize how right she was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had indeed been cold and disinterested in the world. He hadn’t cared how many people died or who suffered in order to achieve his goal—these losses were merely numbers. All he had to do in the aftermath was balance the loss with his victory.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But to the two people closest to him, who saw him from outside himself, his change had likely been strikingly obvious. In a way, that meant Iris had made even more of an impact on him than he’d realized, as she was the fulcrum of this change.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had to laugh at himself for taking so long to notice it. Seriously, how blind was he?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t become like my father,” he assured Rudy, “because the woman who has my heart won’t become mine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy frowned. “I believe House Armelia would be pleased to join with yours, if that’s what you desired. It would be the natural thing. Iris’s younger brother will be the next governor of Armelia. She’ll have to hand the reins over to him at some point anyway.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "True enough. House Armelia had Berne to care for its obligations, and at some point, Iris would be expected to relinquish her role to him. Alfred wondered what she thought about that. Moreover, even if she let Berne become the governor of Armelia, she would still have the Azuta Corporation. And with governorship off her plate, she might well find some other project to pursue and start running toward that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The woman I love is a woman who flies free. I could never clip her wings and keep her in the royal palace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had dedicated the whole of herself to governance, and she spent every spare moment traveling through the duchy. Her eyes sparkled every time she overcame a challenge, which only made her more attractive to Alfred. It would be such a waste to confine her to the rules and regulations of the palace.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know that’s what the queen dowager expects, and I hate to disappoint her. But I have no intention of asking Iris to join the royal family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.” Rudy had a conflicted expression—a mixture of relief and disappointment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They continued talking as they walked to their destination, the library. This was where Alfred spent the majority of his time when he lived at the detached palace, besides when he slept. Lately, he had been traveling more, so he hadn’t come often, as he spent the majority of his time sneaking into the main palace to work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One wall was covered in bookshelves, stuffed full of books. He’d always thought it quite the collection, but now that he had seen House Armelia’s library, it seemed small in comparison. How could one person own so many books, anyway?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred walked toward a desk in the back of the library and took a seat there. This wooden desk and chair had been used by generations of the royal family, and although not particularly beautiful, it was comfortable, and therefore he had always been fond of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shall I bring you some tea?” Rudy asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The prince nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. He heard the faint sound of the door closing quietly. Rudy was speaking to a servant outside the door. The detached palace retained the bare minimum of servants. Ostensibly, this was because the queen dowager had retired, but more truly it was because Alfred and Letty lived there as well, and their lives were under constant threat from Queen Ellia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Here’s your tea, Prince Alfred.” Rudy carefully placed it in front of him, ever the model attendant. Rudy had a number of remarkable skills, but his tea especially was always delicious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. Hm? Is this…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it’s one of the Azuta Corporation’s most popular herbal teas. Supposedly, it’s effective against fatigue.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m aware. That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The pale gold liquid had a unique aroma—it was exquisite.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sounds like the corporation is making a comeback.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. Iris remains impressive. Now that she’s been proven innocent, she isn’t letting any opportunities pass her by. She’s been putting out one new product after another.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sounds like my younger brother is suffering because of it, too,” Alfred said with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although Prince Edward’s reasoning for starting his own company was small-minded, he certainly had chosen the right timing to steal employees from the Azuta Corporation. The ones in higher positions—for example, the employee in charge of the kitchen in the café located in the royal capital—would have been well worth the effort of poaching and remained valuable. But most of the employees Edward had taken from Iris had not held meaningful positions and could therefore add little worth to his company.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Azuta’s greatest asset was its ability to produce new and innovative products. In Alfred’s estimation, Edward really should have tried to steal someone from their research and development department instead.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The report from Father Rafsimons has arrived. First, the charges against the pope are as follows: embezzlement, false allegations against Iris Lana Armelia, and concealing evidence. Due to these incursions, he has been stripped of his position as pope. As you saw in our meeting with him, he is currently imprisoned. Two cardinals and three priests have also received punishment. The full report is here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So two of the five cardinals had participated in this scheme. The church was fully on Edward’s side, so Alfred had been lucky to hamstring their operation and their usefulness as pawns of House Marea. It would take some time for the church to regain its influence, and in the meantime, they would be unable to meaningfully participate in the war between the factions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, have you seen Milo?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I haven’t. I’m not sure he’s returned yet.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You called, so I came… Dun-da-da-daaah!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly a bright, cheerful voice interrupted their conversation. The owner of the voice was the person they had just been discussing. He had light brown hair, and his face was strangely sweet. It wouldn’t have been surprising if someone mistook him for a woman.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You remain unusually skilled at showing up out of nowhere…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Milo was a master of stealth, so neither Alfred nor Rudy had been alerted to his presence. He had been trained as a spy from the time he was a young boy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s because I’m a shadow,” said Milo. “Well? What is it you wanted?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know what I want. Your report. Get on with it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Eep! To start, that girl’s terrifying,” Milo began.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This elicited another sigh from the prince. “Why do you say that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The pope’s son hasn’t yet been punished, you see. He’s still living in the house that’s been reserved for the papal family for generations.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We don’t yet know what will happen with regard to him,” said Rudy. “Those in line to become the pope enter the academy to study and make connections with the nobility. Upon graduation, they join the church and begin training for their papal duties. But now in the midst of Van’s training, his father was stripped of his position. If we wait for Van to finish training, we’ll be without a pope for several years. Not to mention, I’m sure many people will be opposed to installing a pope of a disgraced bloodline. I’ve already heard that very sentiment from some of the highest officials in the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Milo nodded in agreement. Basically, the chances that Van would succeed his father as the pope were exceedingly low.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mm-hmm, exactly. That’s why… So, the kid will try talking to that girl like he always used to, but she’ll say something like ‘Can I help you?’ Like he’s a total stranger. It surprised me. I always thought he stuck his nose into other people’s business without permission, but now she treats him like he’s totally useless. I never expected her to abandon him so quickly.” Although Milo said all of this with a smile, there was an edge in his voice. “I just think it’s a bit soon to cast him aside. I mean, if she really doesn’t have any use for him, I can understand cutting him off, but I just wonder if that’s really in her best interest right now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is she your type or something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not sure. She has her pros and cons. But I already have a master. I have no intentions of fooling around with her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, and? Don’t tell me that’s the end of your report.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this, Milo’s eyes suddenly grew serious, though he maintained his smile. “No. There are an awful lot of rats hanging around her. What do you want me to do with them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Her guards? Or…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Both, I’d say? They behave rather strangely for people tasked with her protection.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… You haven’t gotten anything useful out of them, have you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No one in her circle knows what we’re up to, at least. The duke’s son is starting to distance himself from her—as is the son of the knight commander.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Even Dorssen?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. The knight commander forced him to, though. Good thing either way. Got him before it was too late, I should say. If he’d kept clinging to her, we would’ve had to take care of him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The absence of one knight makes little impact on the kingdom,” Rudy said sharply. It was understandable how he’d come by that perspective, given his grandfather’s affiliation with the military.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s creepy, Rudy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Says the man with the splendid mask,” Rudy retorted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Milo didn’t seem bothered. He had his usual innocent smile plastered onto his face. “Ah, and the duke’s daughter’s maid is sniffing around again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She’s pretty good. Almost makes me want to hire her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was true praise, coming from Milo. While eccentric, he was purely professional when it came to his job. For a moment, the prince did consider hiring Tanya, but…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She’d never entertain the thought of leaving Iris for us. Never in a thousand years.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was impossible.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Milo chuckled. “That’s part of what makes her so good, yes! I wish we could have met her before she had a mistress…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You only ever met her because of her mistress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right. What a shame, what a shame.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well? What’s the baron’s daughter after?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmmm, she meets with that merchant Divan about two or three times a month. They don’t talk about anything especially important. How things are going with Prince Edward, how things are at home. That sort of thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How things are with Edward, hm? I’m sure that’s quite important to Divan. But why was Divan trying to make another move in the first place? As long as the baron’s daughter has her hooks in Ed, he can pull any strings he wants once he’s on the throne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know. Perhaps he’s feeling nervous about you, Your Highness. Or perhaps she was nothing but a pawn to him from the very start. One of the two.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudy frowned; he seemed dissatisfied with Milo’s answer. “I’m sure it’s the latter. We have to take into account that he can’t just sit and wait for everything to pan out in the future. Things as they are aren’t good enough for him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s say Edward takes the throne, but the prime minister is still Louis de Armelia. Duke Armelia has a strong, fortified domain with financial wealth and abundant resources. He holds every official in the palace in the palm of his hand and is the highest-ranking noble. Even if Divan tried to use Edward, he wouldn’t be able to make any bold moves. Instead, it would be more effective to use the internal strife that presently exists within the nobility to weaken the kingdom and grow his own influence.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… I feel like that would be a complex plan with a lot of moving parts. And where would Tweil come into it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tasmeria’s land is fertile enough to be attractive in itself. Enarene’s report agrees. Just this year, Tweil’s harvest was the worst it’s been in a generation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Enarene was another “shadow” just like Milo, one who was currently operating under Baron Marvelas Messi, a noble who held the border with Tweil. Enarene relayed information between Alfred, and the baron and had recently gone undercover in Tweil. According to the newest report, Tweil had suffered an exceptionally poor harvest. Winter lasted most of the year in that northern country, and not only was the soil poor—a condition of the cease-fire with Tasmeria had them paying an enormous amount of money to support the princess who had married into House Rubens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, they were cornered and could no longer afford to be patient. They would much rather try to destroy a fragile kingdom and take it over, rather than wait for a better future for their own. That was their philosophy, anyway.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, it’s not my place to sort out what to do. And now I’m tired.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that the last of your report?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? Oh, yes, yes. Not much else to say.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. Keep up the good work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Highness.” Milo’s expression turned serious. Then he vanished as suddenly and soundlessly as he had first appeared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the prince gave Rudy a list of instructions, he took his leave. Now alone, he flipped through the documents on his desk, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was thinking of the day Iris had let her emotions show and cried.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He knew he had pushed her, and hard. But he hadn’t expected her to explode like that. She had seemed so frail. Truly desperate. She always had such bright, glowing eyes and never showed any sign of fatigue. But that day…her slender shoulders had been bowed under such a heavy burden.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred had seen the immense guilt she felt over bringing such troubles to her family. And it was no wonder, with her history. A noble daughter’s most important role was to get married and bring two houses together. After her engagement was broken, he couldn’t blame her for feeling she had to prove herself. Her driving force was her desire to be valuable to her family. Yet she was afraid that she had caused irreparable damage to them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seeing her like that had saddened him. At the same time, it made him angry. He wanted to tell her to stop hating herself. He chuckled bitterly. He really had it bad for that woman, if he found even that part of her adorable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Rudy entered once more. Alfred listened to his report and let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rudy. I’m going to be asking you to take on another job for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“With the military again?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. General Gazell is there, after all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s fine. I don’t mind getting some exercise.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudy agreed with a smile, but then he froze when he glanced at the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The prince smiled wryly when he saw who was standing there. It was his little sister.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 12",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "IT’S BEEN SOME TIME since we last met. Thank you so much for reading the second volume of this story. I truly wasn’t expecting the story to continue, so I really appreciate your support. Thank you so much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be honest, it didn’t feel real when I was approached about getting my story published, not even after discussing it with my editor and sending off the manuscript. Every day felt like a dream, and it didn’t seem the least bit like reality. It only hit me that it had really happened when I stood in the bookstore and saw the book on the shelf.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By the way, a friend of mine read the previous volume and remarked, “The afterword you wrote really sounded like you.” Yup, they commented on the afterword before they said a thing about the actual content of the book. But I suppose my friend had actually been to my house and seen the bookshelf in question, so that perspective makes sense. All my friends said, “We told you to straighten up your bookshelf!” or “Why don’t you just start buying e-books?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But don’t you feel a sense of accomplishment when you put books on a shelf? It’s that certain buzz you get from collecting things. I tried to buy e-books and read them that way, but I always end up buying a physical copy of the book anyway. So it doesn’t look like I’m going to whittle down my book collection anytime soon.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Also, imagining a book I wrote on a bookshelf makes me incredibly happy. Like maybe someone will go to clean up their bookshelf or go to read another book, and they’ll get distracted by my book and think, “Oh, yeah, that’s where that book was! Brings back memories…” Then they’ll pick up the book and start rereading it. I love the thought of that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In recent news, the manga version of Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter was published in Young Ace Up in the April 2016 edition. I really love Suki Umemiya’s vision of the Duke’s Daughter manga. She’s really brought all the characters to life. It reminded me once again of how amazing manga is. Iris’s father, Louis de Armelia, appears in the third chapter, and I had to murmur, “Ah, I forgot how intimidating her father is! Like a demon king or something!” But she’s really captured all of the characters’ individual styles. Thank you so much, Umemiya-sensei.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And thank you, everyone. Thank you to those of you who have been reading since this story was published on the internet. There are so many scenes in this published version that were not included in the first internet drafts. I really hope you enjoy seeing those differences.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thank you also to my editor for giving me so much support. When I get advice from my editor, I get so inspired to write, thinking, “Ooh, how about I do this here?” or “I should add this here!” But mainly, I just want to hurry up and keep writing!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Apparently, once I get inspired, I just want to go all out. But putting all jokes aside, my editor’s words are really a huge source of my motivation. I can’t wait to keep working with you.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To Haduki Futaba-sama, thank you so much for your magnificent illustrations. Ever since I heard the second volume would be published, I couldn’t wait to see what the cover would look like. I want to keep diligently writing stories worthy of your art.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And to everyone who has helped me, given me comments, and encouraged me: I was only able to get this far because of all of you. Please keep supporting me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And to the people who bought this book—thank you so much. I’m honored that you continued this journey with me after Volume One. I will work even harder to make sure you enjoy future stories. And I hope that we meet again soon.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "—REIA",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 13",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you for reading!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Get the latest news about your favorite Seven Seas books and brand-new licenses delivered to your inbox every week:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sign up for our newsletter!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Or visit us online:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 14",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Color Inserts",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Table of Contents Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Title Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Characters",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 6: The Duke’s Daughter Goes to War",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 7: The Duke’s Daughter, Busy in the Capita...",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 8: The Duke’s Daughter Gets to Work in Armelia",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 9: The Duke’s Daughter and the Scandal",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 10: The Duke’s Daughter Counterattacks",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 14",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Color Inserts",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Title Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Characters",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 6: The Duke’s Daughter Goes to War",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 7: The Duke’s Daughter, Busy in the Capita...",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 8: The Duke’s Daughter Gets to Work in Armelia",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 9: The Duke’s Daughter and the Scandal",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 10: The Duke’s Daughter Counterattacks",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afterword",
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Newsletter",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 1",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Cover Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "@page { margin: 0; padding: 0; }",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "body { margin: 0; padding: 0; oeb-column-number: 1; }",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "div.ImageContainer { width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; }",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "img.CoverImage { height: 100%; max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; padding: 0; margin: 0; }",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 2",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Color Inserts",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 3",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 4",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Title Page",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 5",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Characters",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 6",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 7",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 11: The Duke's Daughter, Talk of the Town",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 11:The Duke's Daughter, Talk of the Town",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "PRINCESS LETICIA, known to her intimates as Letty, entered the room with a sigh. As the blood sister of Prince Alfred, she was third in line for the throne. A beautiful girl with blonde hair and soft green eyes the color of peridots, Letty bore a striking resemblance to her late mother, Queen Sharia—though to be honest, Alfred remembered the queen only faintly. Now his sister’s lovely features had sharpened with concern.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Brother, I can’t take you to task if you’ve already made your move, but wouldn’t it have been wiser to use your brain first?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Letty, have you finished?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have. And all while you were busy with your scheming and meeting with your little sweetheart.” A charming smile was plastered on her face, but her eyes held no hint of that expression. She took a step forward and silently placed the documents she was holding on the desk. “This one’s free of charge. I noticed something suspicious about our financial flow.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia had taken care of Alfred’s business while he was away. His work had continued to pile up since the king’s illness, and he wouldn’t have been able to tear himself away from his desk if not for his sister’s help.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sadly, even as a child, Leticia had been all too aware of her precarious situation within the palace—that is, that she was right in the center of a power struggle. Yet not only had she received a formal education, she had learned how to conduct all the family business as well. Even Duke Armelia, the prime minister himself, had recognized her political acumen and analytical skill.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve grown even more efficient at this, Letty. I feel secure knowing I can continue entrusting the work to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm, I hope you’re not already planning your next trip, Brother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred flipped through the report as he listened to Leticia. He couldn’t think of one thing he would add to it. In fact, she had covered the matter so exhaustively that the report included elements Alfred himself wouldn’t have thought to address.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The Minister of Human Affairs has chosen to side with the second prince. As such, he’s pushed less consequential projects like this one to the side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it goes…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The capital’s seven governing bodies ran the kingdom: the Ministries of Finance, Defense, Law, Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure, Human Affairs, and Education. The prime minister oversaw all of those, and above him was the king. The ministries were meant to establish policies for the kingdom as a whole, as well as to manage the territory under direct control of the royal family. They were also in charge of negotiating with the lords of every domain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The governors held a tremendous amount of power, so negotiating with them took a considerable amount of the ministers’ time—and that was on top of their other duties. That was why Alfred was working to centralize the kingdom’s power. However, the nobility at large was still too influential for his efforts to have made much of an impact.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Count Sagitalia, the Minister of Finance, had sided with Prince Alfred, along with the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs. But the Ministers of Human Affairs and Infrastructure, along with the Minister of Education, had sided with the second prince.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The seventh player, the Ministry of Education, had been mostly taken over by the Darryl Church. Unfortunately, since the recent scandal during which several high-ranking officials were purged, that branch of the government had descended into a state of chaos. It was, at the moment, largely inactive. As such, Alfred was hoping to separate it from the government wholesale.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The prime minister had maintained his neutrality for a long time, just like the Minister of Law. However, in the wake of his daughter’s excommunication, he had decisively thrown his support behind the first prince—or at least, that was how it seemed to those observing the affair.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Minister of Human Affairs, guilty of collusion and pocketing funds from the ministry?” Alfred asked as he closed Leticia’s report. “Dreadful behavior for someone in his position.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s just so fond of jockeying for position with everyone else in the capital.” Leticia smirked, and she began to detail just how the minister had spent the embezzled funds first on himself and then to bribe other officials.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, while my little brother and I are effectively playing a game of Capture the Flag, there’s a round of musical chairs for those vying for power just below us, hm? Seems like a lot of fun we’re having.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s precisely it. Speaking of which, Brother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d like you to arrange a meeting with me and Duke Armelia’s daughter.” Leticia’s eyes sparkled, but her tone was so forward that Alfred was momentarily caught off guard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had to ask. “A bit out of the blue. Where’s this coming from?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, coming across another woman who works in government is quite rare. I’d love to make her acquaintance. That’s merely an excuse, of course; my real reason is because I know just how precious she is to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Letty…my relationship with her isn’t what you imagine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, isn’t it? Then why else have you overlooked all those opportunities to prevent Armelia from gaining more power, especially when you could have done so easily?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis, the duchess of Armelia, was a favorite of the queen dowager, and consequently, she and her family enjoyed a great deal of influence. As such, it behooved the royal family to keep an eye on them, out of an abundance of caution. Fortunately, House Armelia was the very definition of a noble family; they protected long-held traditions and always put the needs of their citizens first. For that reason, Alfred had thus far never had a problem with them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Am I wrong? Or is it that you think you can use her?” Leticia asked sharply, a stubborn gleam in her eye. That look told Alfred that no matter what he said, she would not change her mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He let out a sigh. “Even if I said you could meet her, we couldn’t invite her here. And you’ve barely ever set foot outside the capital, much less the palace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d be safe as long as you and Rudy were with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That means you’re just going to leave me behind again, doesn’t it? You’re so mean. Isn’t he, Rudy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy, who had, as ever, been on standby, chuckled at her sudden question. “It’s not my place to say.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly! Not you too, Rudy!” Princess Leticia pouted with disapproval. Then she sighed, and her shoulders dropped. The lighthearted mood darkened in the blink of an eye.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred didn’t want to hear what was coming next, but regardless, he held his tongue and listened to what Leticia had to say.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Enough about Lady Iris. We need to speak, and it’s serious. I must get outside of this palace. I want to walk through the city as a member of the royal family and see how the people live with my own eyes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You still want that, even knowing your position here?” As he asked, Alfred’s tone grew naturally firmer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were profound limits on Leticia’s activities, and she was mostly confined to the royal palace and the castle. This wasn’t just because she was a princess and therefore had to be kept cloistered—it was because she so closely resembled their late mother, which had only become more and more apparent as she grew. If the king ever laid eyes on the young woman Leticia had become, he would without a doubt come to dote on her. Therefore, they could not, under any circumstances, allow the king to see her; the more he adored her, the more endangered her life would become.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To say the least, Ellia, the new queen, would not take kindly to seeing the king favor a girl who was the spitting image of the late queen. She regarded both Princess Leticia and Prince Alfred as obstacles. If Leticia ever provoked her, even as a joke, Ellia would doubtless act on the dark feelings she nursed about them both. If that happened, Alfred wasn’t sure he would be able to protect his sister. He couldn’t be by her side twenty-four hours a day, after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Furthermore, Alfred didn’t think he could bring himself to trust his own father even in such circumstances. The king had been so heartbroken and lovelorn over their mother…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A wry smile crossed Alfred’s face. Perhaps he was just being selfish, keeping his sister shut away. He was afraid to lose her, yes, but more than that, he never wanted to be as powerless as he had been after their mother’s death.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Perhaps he had become just as broken as their father. Perhaps that was why he wanted to lock his sister away—so he could lock away his fear of losing her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand my situation,” Leticia said. “And I know that if something dangerous were to happen, I’d just be in the way. But I still want to see the world. If I can’t walk in high society, isn’t this the least I can do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia met Alfred’s eyes as she made her case, and he suddenly realized just how much she had grown.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please, Brother. I can’t live the rest of my life barely ever stepping outside the castle walls and languishing in the palace—not like that other brother of mine.” The intense light within her eyes spoke to him as well: If you lock me away, sooner or later, I’ll just escape on my own.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia had come to Alfred to ask for his permission, but at this point, he realized it was just a formality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fine, then,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You want to come have a look around town with me, right? As long as Rudy and I are with you, it should be fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you so much, Brother!” Leticia grinned happily at him. “In that case, I’ll hurry and finish looking over the documents I have left. Please finish your work soon, too, so that we can go out right away!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia merrily scooped up a stack of documents that was separate from the ones she had deposited on her brother’s desk—the ones he’d been working on and finished just before she came into the room. She gave him one last smile and then left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudius fussed over her as she went, hurrying in her wake. “Ah, Princess! Please, let me carry that for you…”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re awfully good, Princess Letty.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Whatever do you mean, Rudius?” Leticia asked with a hint of amusement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You know exactly what I meant, he thought, but he answered her anyway. “That conversation just now. Your goal from the start was to get permission to leave the castle, wasn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She laughed. “Of course it was.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It left him wondering—did she really want to meet Iris as well? His instinct had told him that Leticia’s true purpose had been to get permission to leave the castle. It seemed he was spot-on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The princess set down the hefty stack of documents on her desk. Her study was smaller than Prince Alfred’s. Cute little knickknacks decorated the office here and there, but other than those, the sheer amount of dense, complicated tomes piled on the shelves didn’t seem very princess-like at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t you remember what my brother always says?” Leticia asked. “When negotiating, first ask for something that they’re unlikely to agree to; if you do that, then they’re more likely to agree to the thing you really want. And it worked wonderfully!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius laughed. “So that’s why you started out by asking to meet Iris? You’re a formidable haggler.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia laughed again. “Please don’t exaggerate. My brother realized what I was doing about halfway through anyway.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So that was why that complicated look crossed Prince Alfred’s face, Rudius thought. It had been when he realized his sister’s true aim. Even so, his soft spot for his sister’s feelings had led him to play right into her hands.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia took a seat at the beautiful, ornate white desk. In the past, other princesses had probably sat there to write letters. That was the picture the scene painted at first glance, but in the present, the desk was stacked high with official documents.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I got what I wanted. Surely he can’t complain if I just happen to run into the young lady of Armelia while wandering through the capital?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, that’s why you’re in such a hurry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Although the inquiry was over and her part in the church’s scandal had come to an end, Iris would likely remain in the capital for a bit longer. Various other incidents had cropped up once the second prince, Edward, insisted on poking his nose into her other affairs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I meant what I said: I want to meet the duke’s daughter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you so fixated? Although I suppose I can understand the fascination, seeing as she’s captured the heart of your beloved brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s precisely why. But it’s not quite the reason you think—I’m not afraid my precious older brother will be taken from me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In one fell swoop, Leticia guessed Rudius’s theory and skewered it. There wasn’t much else for him to do but quietly wait for her to continue. Leticia giggled when she saw that she had rendered him speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, of course I’m a tiny bit afraid. But really, I’m more curious about her. Just think about it. My other brother’s world is so very small. He’s been under Queen Ellia’s protection his entire life, surrounded by people who only have good things to say about him. Perhaps that was what led him to break his engagement with the duke’s daughter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This “other brother” of whom she spoke so derisively was, of course, Prince Edward. Leticia had always referred to him in that manner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But in another way, Alfred’s world is also small. All he’s had is you and me. The only other people he’s surrounded himself with are those whom he knows will benefit him in some way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last, Rudius began to understand where Leticia was going with all this. It was true that Prince Alfred’s world was limited, although in a different way from his younger brother’s. He wasn’t sheltered, but he was highly selective about whom he accepted into his inner circle. If he deemed a person to be of benefit to him, he would let down his guard, seek their opinions, and chat about all manner of things with them. He was, in short, capable of such intimacy. But at present, the only people he trusted to that degree were his own sister, Leticia, and Rudius.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps that’s only natural, as a member of the royal family, even if I feel my brother takes it to an extreme. The castle is filled with enemies, and he’s shouldered the burden of my protection ever since he was young.” Leticia sighed. “I won’t dismiss that. He has quite the mercenary point of view, but he’s used those skills to gather the people who work for him. That’s part of his strength. But relying on that power leaves him in a precarious situation. To put it simply…he’s dependent on loyalty to his results. The second he loses that edge or if he truly slips up, they’ll leave him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius had to agree with her on that. Right now, the only nobles over whom Prince Alfred had any sway were the recently elevated and the provincial lords. They had seen Alfred produce concrete results and were attracted to them. For anyone for whom natural ability was the deciding factor, Alfred was the obvious choice over his brother. However, if Edward ever demonstrated the same potential as his older brother, the nobility wouldn’t be persuaded to remain in Alfred’s camp because of feelings alone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The only reason the neutral faction tipped slightly in Alfred’s favor this time was because of Duke Armelia. But why did he side with my brother? Is it possible he simply wanted people to think he favored Alfred? House Armelia is so influential that the prime minister could afford to ignore this conflict altogether; the duke could quietly watch us struggle and never make a move, don’t you think? Worst-case scenario in this scandal, his daughter would’ve had to abdicate and withdraw from society. Instead, her father publicly throws his support behind my brother. Why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you mean…the prime minister felt he owed the prince?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Precisely. Alfred knew that if he backed Lady Iris, he might well divide the country, yet he still chose to help her—even though it didn’t directly benefit him to do so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And because it wasn’t part of one of his own schemes, he could have withdrawn at any point?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. But if his eyes are on the end of all this struggle, wouldn’t he want to gather as many allies as he could, Rudy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To strengthen the crown, you mean…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. He doesn’t want to stop at unifying the nobility under his rule, like the kings who came before. He wants to go beyond that. It’s a thorny path, but that’s why putting himself out there like this is necessary. He doesn’t want people who will simply walk beside him; he needs people who will spill their blood for him in times of peace and in times of strife. The military has always adored Dean, admittedly, so I’m sure he won’t have trouble on the latter front.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Case in point, Prince Alfred had the loyalty of Rudius, whose grandfather was General Gazell. The general had always had his eye on Alfred, ever since the prince was a young boy. Their relationship had only grown stronger after Alfred secretly joined the military as “Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those three factors added up to Leticia’s hypothesis: The military was incredibly likely to swear allegiance to Prince Alfred once they learned he was Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To the point, if my brother wants to accelerate the process of strengthening the crown, he also has to strengthen his allegiances. And I was thinking that, in order for that to happen, he needs to step outside of his little world, the one that’s just you and me. That was when I learned about Duke Armelia’s daughter. She’s already expanded Alfred’s world, and that made me extremely curious about what kind of person she is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, I see. Your Highness?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure you haven’t gone outside the castle already?” Rudius couldn’t help but ask. It was hard to believe a member of the royal family could speak so expertly on such things, especially one so young. He smiled wryly. Normally, anyway…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Whatever do you mean?” asked Leticia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s only that you speak of all these things as if you’ve seen them firsthand, is all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s the opposite, actually. Being kept in this gilded cage, I’m able to describe the state of the outside world so clearly because I so badly want to know about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, is that how it is?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s unfortunate, Rudius thought. Even a dullard could see the potential in Leticia. It was a shame that she hadn’t been given a position where she could use it to its fullest extent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I still have a great deal to learn, though,” said Leticia. “I’ve never done anything on my own, after all. You can guess all you want about what you’ll do in a given situation, but there’s really no telling until it actually happens to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy wasn’t sure about that, in her case. But Princess Leticia always thought much more highly of others than she did of herself. If she gave herself more credit, she might have been less naive to her own ability.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Back to the point, I was terribly surprised when I saw Alfred take an interest in someone, even going so far as to visit them frequently. Suddenly, someone other than you and I broadens his world, and now he’s at her mercy… Rudy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps it’s inappropriate for me to ask, since you’re related to her, but what do you think about Duke Armelia’s daughter? What kind of person is she?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A true noble, in both the best and worst senses of the word.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She is very proud, and she has the strength to walk on her own two feet. That’s why the broken engagement didn’t destroy her. Instead, she started her own business and began running the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. So, she and my brother are quite alike, in a way?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They are. Her pride means she doesn’t like to show any weakness, so she doesn’t know how to rely on others. Despite the torment she endured at school, she never lost her composure. She could have done something to retaliate against Lady Yuri’s harassment, and she could have even done so subtly—but she didn’t. Or she could have asked for support from her family and played the role of the tragic heroine. The people would certainly have seen her in a different light if she had.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Both Rudius and Alfred knew all too well that Lady Yuri had played that card herself, and it had enabled her to boldly cross line after line.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris retains her pride. She has servants who she trusts implicitly, but she still creates boundaries with them. Even if something terrible happens, she refuses to show vulnerability or to cling to them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh… She really is like my brother. Although, it sounds like she’s perhaps a more dedicated and kinder person.” Leticia sighed again. “If seeing her close herself off frustrates him to any degree, I hope he takes a good, long look at himself and changes his own ways.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudius laughed quietly. “I think she’s changed him already. We’ve never seen him let anyone else in, after all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Moreover, this was the first time that Prince Alfred had acted in a risky situation without exhaustively weighing the pros and cons. He had even offered himself up as collateral to Father Rafsimons.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true. Say, how far do you think their relationship has progressed?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, he’s only just realized his feelings, and honestly, I’m not entirely sure she reciprocates.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my! And has my brother done anything about it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I don’t think—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Honestly, he’s just so clueless when it comes to love. Lady Iris seems a bit dense about it as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius was about to agree with her but thought better of it. “Well, you have to understand that she has her own reasons for not wanting to open up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If my dear brother wants something badly enough, he’ll take action. There’s no sense covering for him with pretty words.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was so blunt about it, Rudius didn’t quite know what to say.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It would benefit me greatly if my brother made a move alr—ah, never mind. As his little sister, I support him wholeheartedly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius pretended he didn’t hear her mumble that first part. Sometimes there was safety in silence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia quietly rose from her chair and walked over to the window, where she looked down at the view below. “Do you remember the first time we met?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course. Prince Alfred brought me to the castle, and you were hiding behind his back. You were so shy you wouldn’t even show me your face.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right,” she agreed, an echo of that shyness in her voice. A fond smile crossed her face. “It was so fun… Those days truly were just full of delight. We used to play in the garden together, remember? Ever since I was little, I’ve never been allowed outside the palace walls. I’d barely been outside of the castle, much less into town. So I always looked forward to when Alfred brought you home. He and my grandmother were my entire world…and then you were, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Princess Leticia…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, don’t make that face. I’m happy. Of course, I wonder what it’s like to be part of high society, or what it’s like to go to school, or what other young people my age like to chat about. There are quite a lot of things I’d love to know more of…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The official explanation for Leticia’s absence from the public eye had always been that she was sickly. Although she had interacted with a few other children her age, she had never been allowed to attend school. She really had lived her life like a bird in a gilded cage.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But I understand that all of this was done to protect me. I’m not always sure about Grandmother…but I know that my brother doesn’t think of me as a tool. He would never, under any circumstances, try to marry me off against my will. Although I’m sure that’s partly because if I had a child, it would complicate things for him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In truth, Prince Alfred was holding the queen dowager in check from getting Princess Leticia engaged. Even though Prince Edward had successfully kept Prince Alfred away from court, if Princess Leticia had a child, the line of succession would be thrown into even more chaos.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At present, there were only three real candidates in line for the crown: the Princes Alfred and Edward, and the Princess Leticia. The two princes were engaged in battle for that throne, and if Alfred lost, he expected he would die. No one believed that Queen Ellia would settle for something as lenient as his imprisonment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was why Prince Alfred couldn’t back down from this fight.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other hand, if he won, and if Princess Leticia were to wed and have a child, the family of the man she married would almost surely have troublesome thoughts. What if “something” were to happen to Prince Alfred? The next king would come from their family…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, a new struggle for the throne would begin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was why Prince Alfred strove to keep the queen dowager from marrying off his sister.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even so, I’m sure his primary reason for keeping me cooped up is to protect me from Queen Ellia’s supporters. Once I leave, it will quickly become more difficult to maintain the story of my illness. And if I enter high society, well…my face alone will provoke her, I’m sure. My brother really is protecting me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re that important to him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia laughed. “So I am. In that case, my marriage will have to wait until after he secures his victory. Ah, although I’m sure if he loses, my other brother will marry me off to another country or some such.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A faint flicker of pain raced through Rudius’s chest when he heard the princess speak of such a fate. It was only a brief, fleeting ache. Perhaps it was his imagination? He quickly refocused his attention back on the conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway…whenever I feel anxious or lonely, I just think back on when we were children. It was truly when I was the happiest,” Leticia said with a sad smile. It didn’t last long before it was replaced with a determined, serious expression. “Rudy, we must win. For my brother, and for myself. And for Lady Iris as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I agree.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For starters, we need to come up with a countermeasure for the trade sanctions against Armelia. Knowing my brother, I’m sure he already has some ideas up his sleeve?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I believe so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia gave him a smile. “I’ll help in any way I can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 8",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 12: The Duke's Daughter Settles Things",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 12:The Duke's Daughter Settles Things",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I SAT AT MY DESK in my study. As usual, a tremendous number of documents were piled up on top of it. I’d just finished signing my approval on several of them. Having reached a good stopping point, I decided to take a break and call in Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want to know what’s going on with Ed’s company.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve already looked into it.” Tanya handed me a stack of papers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She never ceases to amaze me, I thought as I flipped through her report. Our sales had suffered since the scandal surrounding my (now rescinded) excommunication. That was true for both the Azuta Corporation and all the companies based in Armelia, to some extent. The timing of Ed’s maneuvers had done no small amount of damage to my position both as the president of my company and as the acting governor of my duchy. The proof lay in the mountain of work under which I was presently buried.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be honest, I hadn’t had time to think about all this while I was in the thick of escaping excommunication, but now that it was over, I couldn’t stop ruminating over how the pope and Ed’s faction had gotten the best of me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Luckily, we’d defused the situation and taken care of it all quickly enough. However, we were dealing with the loss of not only customers but vital staff members from the Azuta Corporation as well. A shiver went down my spine whenever I thought of what might have happened had we not dealt with the situation so swiftly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so glad that Dean was able to connect with Father Rafsimons, and with such perfect timing. Otherwise, Azuta would have either folded or been bought out. Not only that, every business based in Armelia probably would have struggled to remain afloat,” I mused.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya nodded in agreement. “I know there’s no sense in going on about the what-ifs, but if Father Rafsimons hadn’t cooperated, we wouldn’t have been able to land such a decisive finishing blow. I think you were only able to act as you did because you had that in your back pocket. And if we hadn’t secured such a solid victory in our favor, the businesses in Armelia would have folded sooner or later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Moreover, since I’d been focusing on expanding Armelia’s economic influence, that would have been a devastating blow indeed. After suffering such a loss, all the owners of those companies would have turned their backs on me. It would have only made sense for them to do so, as they never would have ended up in such dire straits had they not based their businesses in Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To put it simply, Ed had tried to destroy Armelia not by military force but through targeting our purse strings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nevertheless, all those what-ifs had thankfully ended up purely hypothetical, and that future had not come to pass.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In reality, we’d survived the inquiry, and thanks to some new products, business for the Azuta Corporation was on the rebound. The other companies based in the duchy were similarly reporting a gradual return to business as usual.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seems like things at Ed’s company are getting a bit desperate,” I remarked as I read over the documents. Business wasn’t going nearly as well for his company as it had been during the scandal. They sold basically the same products that we did, and at the same prices. But since he had headhunted only members of my production crew, we still had far better customer service; the overall quality of our products was better, too. Due to all those factors, the customers we had lost during the scandal had mostly returned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To make matters worse for Ed, his business was being run so sloppily and was in such a state of confusion that he was losing clients left and right.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, and because of that, he’s been neglecting his employees,” Tanya explained. “Now they’re losing motivation because of the lack of customers. Some of his people are saying that the employment contracts and the working conditions were much better at Azuta. Furthermore, the business is so bad that they’re having to let people go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You sound rather blunt about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you pity him, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t be ridiculous. But…I just think it’s a bit of a shame that he went to so much trouble to snipe my employees, only to fire them. Seems like such a waste.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, it made sense to reduce staff when business was bad. Even if you personally hated to do it, as a businessperson, you always had to tuck that away in your mind as a measure of last resort. I couldn’t blame him for doing so.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But it was an undeniable fact that his business had outperformed Azuta due to his theft of my employees, even if he had only retained them for a short amount of time. In my opinion, it was therefore particularly cold of him to ignore the results they had produced and fire them just like that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“People find it difficult to relinquish their economic influence and position in society, especially if they’ve built it themselves. Consequently, the former Azuta employees who worked for him report that their pay was quite high when they were first hired, but they had numerous complaints about the way they were treated after business went bad. Those complaints were likely the grounds for which they were dismissed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed like, despite the uncertainty surrounding our financial future during the scandal, the working conditions had remained much better at Azuta. After working for me, my former employees had set their bar a bit high for Ed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have any of Ed’s dismissed employees tried to come back to Azuta?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I expect they might,” Tanya answered promptly, at which I let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It had taken so much time to reconfigure ourselves in the chaos of their departure, and now I would have to come up with a plan of action in case they came back asking for their old jobs. How much work was this all going to add up to, anyway? Speaking of work…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wonder why Ed raised our tariffs?” I murmured out loud. I’d been thinking about this for a while now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Most likely for the sole purpose of harassing you,” Tanya replied from my side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… While that’s definitely possible, I feel like there must be more to it. After all, by doing this, he’s definitely introduced more problems for the kingdom than he’s solved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Armelia was a large domain and probably either the second- or third-foremost exporter of goods in the kingdom. Of course, our exports had fallen during the recent scandal, but that also meant that fewer goods were making their way to other domains. Even when we were able to export goods, we weren’t turning much of a profit by doing so. Our domain’s population was constantly growing, so even without high tariffs, it was less profitable to export our goods than it was to buy up and sell them within our own domain. We needed those stockpiles in case of an emergency, like a poor harvest due to inclement weather.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m thinking about it because we have a dearth of resources at present. I’d like you to find out what the nobles in the capital are up to and report back on their activities. And see what the prices are like within the city and the reactions to them. At any rate, I’ve done enough for today.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I placed my signature on one last document and handed it to Tanya. Now that I was done with that, perhaps I could walk around the grounds. My body was stiff and painful from sitting in the same position at my desk all day. Yes, that was just the thing, I thought as I stood and headed out the door. Maybe I’ll take a book out to the garden and read while I drink some tea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, I happened to run into Berne.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Berne!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you up to, Sister?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I just finished my work for the day, so I was thinking of taking a break.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Might I have a minute of your time?” Berne asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I flashed him a wry smile. “Is it something that we can discuss in the courtyard?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He responded with an equally wry smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, in that case, shall we go to the study?” I asked. We could drink the tea there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On second thought, I was sure Tanya was about to send someone to ensure I actually left the study, so I went ahead and took Berne back to my room instead.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well? What is it?” I asked once we were there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure if it’s more like I’m asking you for advice or giving you information…” Berne seemed so hesitant that I knew it must be something bad. “The other day, it was suggested to the king that he disband the military.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was so shocked that I was sure my eyes looked like saucers. Whatever the expression on my face was, it was certainly not befitting of a duke’s daughter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-you mean that nonsense Yuri Neuer was speaking of a while back? I can’t believe it made its way to the king…” I sighed. At the same time, a shiver raced down my spine. I couldn’t believe Yuri had so much power now that she was trying to make her foolishness a reality. “I imagine that if the suggestion was made to the king, then it already has the backing of numerous nobles?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. The suggestion was made while Father had his hands tied during your excommunication.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That made this at least partly my fault…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But thankfully, you resolved the situation quickly. Father, Grandfa—er, General Gazell, and others who opposed the idea successfully defeated the measure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The measure was rejected, then. How?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I heard they used the Wartime Regime Act.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The Wartime Regime Act?” That sounded vaguely familiar. I tipped my head to the side and tried to dredge up where I could’ve heard it before. I suddenly remembered I had seen it in a book in the library back at the mansion. “Oh, that outdated old edict…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was as old as the kingdom itself. Just as the name suggested, it was a law that took effect during wartime. It had only been used once in several hundred years and never since. It had been soon after the kingdom’s founding, back when each domain was even more autonomous. At the time, the kingdom had maintained no permanent military unto itself; instead, each domain sent soldiers to aid the king as needed. The law was invoked against the rulers of domains who opposed the kingdom’s wars to the point that they refused to send soldiers—the act forced them to do so. Then, after the war, those rulers were at risk of having their domains reclaimed by the crown.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a consequence, the king had established a permanent military under the crown to avoid this ever happening. Each domain nevertheless kept a certain number of soldiers beholden only to them under the guise of self-defense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To wit, the reason this act had never been enforced since that first incident several hundred years ago was because there had been no need for it. Now that there was a permanent standing military, anytime war threatened the kingdom, the nobility had agreed to face the enemy as one and the kingdom had united. In other words, the fact that the act had been invoked now showed just how divided the kingdom had become.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We only have a cease-fire agreement with Tweil, so technically the war isn’t over. Thus, since we are at war, the act is valid and can be applied, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Father must have had a difficult time with this. But I’m relieved he was able to avoid having the military disbanded. That would have been the absolute worst-case scenario.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was putting it lightly, to be honest. As Father had said, we were still technically at war. Moreover, having investigated Yuri Neuer’s past, I knew that Tweil was making aggressive moves behind the scenes. But as my father had warned me, at the end of the day, I was still only a governor. I had no intention of responding to their aggression in kind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, but…” Berne started.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s more?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I just wanted your advice on something. Father has given me homework on the matter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, he asked me to identify the biggest problem in this situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The biggest problem, hm… And?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was just thinking perhaps I could run it by you, and if anything came to mind, you might give me a hint.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And Father asked you to give me this message?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought about it for a moment. If my hunch was correct, Father wanted to pass along this information not as a father to his daughter but as the current governor of Armelia to the acting governor of Armelia. In other words, he was telling me to ready myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Berne, which nobles backed the proposal of military disbandment to the king?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Primarily those belonging to the second prince’s faction. Some members of the neutral party, too. I thought the problem might be that the neutral families are being swayed toward the second prince’s side…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And he told you that wasn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I asked Berne to name the families that had agreed with the military disbandment. After I heard them, I looked up at the ceiling and thought, Ah, this country is on the brink…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And the plan was that if the measure was approved, the newly unemployed soldiers would be provided with relief?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. It would have depended on the desires of every given person, but in times of peace, they would have been reemployed as domain-specific troops. But in case of emergency, they would be drafted to serve under the crown itself. So in the end, the domains would share the burden of our current military expenditures.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ah, I knew it. I let out a sigh. “Berne, I’m not sure if I’m right about this, but I have a feeling that Father wants to see how deeply you can think on a problem that has no clear answer—what predictions you can make and how you act on those predictions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the course of this job, I’d thought so many times that it would be so much easier if every problem had a clear solution like on a test at school, however…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne frowned. “I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The neutral families have started to lean toward the second prince’s faction, hm? Well. That is a problem. But is that the true issue, I wonder?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m telling you to think about the situation from all possible angles. On what basis did the neutral faction support this measure, and what desirable outcome did they foresee? Mull that over. There’s no right or wrong answer, so just teasing out reasons and consequences will help you prepare a countermeasure for every possible scenario.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne paused thoughtfully to consider what I’d said, and then he nodded. “Thank you, Sister.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. And thank you for the information.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I noticed as he left that the expression on his face looked much more at ease than when he’d first come into the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seconds after my brother departed, Tanya came in, followed by Lyle and Dida. Perfect timing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry to spring this on you right after you’ve returned, Tanya, but I need you to prepare a report on the duchy’s stockpiles at once. Meanwhile, Lyle, Dida, I want a report on the current number of soldiers in our garrison, as well as how many private soldiers there are in Armelia as a whole. I want numbers on potential commanders as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya bowed her head. “Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle and Dida followed suit, but Dida had a question. “We’ll get on that right away, but…did something happen, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was awfully sudden, so I didn’t blame him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Berne just gave me a message from my father,” I explained. “A proposal was made to the king, suggesting that he should disband the kingdom’s military.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!” All three of them gasped in unison, equally shocked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was sure their concerns were partly for Armelia’s citizens, but they were also worried about my grandfather, their master, who was the general of the army.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Luckily, my father and grandfather put a stop to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All three of them breathed a sigh of relief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But the problem is how this all came to pass in the first place—the people who proposed it and the content of the proposal itself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll preface this by saying that it’s merely my own opinion. I could be wrong.” They all nodded. “Let’s begin at the beginning. I have a feeling the person who started all this was Yuri Neuer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That woman…” Lyle didn’t even try to hide his disdain. It was extremely rare for him to show any of his emotions so openly, let alone negative ones.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure how she did it—though judging from Tanya’s report, I have a suspicion that she’s connected to Tweil.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But how closely, and where had it begun? Perhaps someone was threatening her. Or maybe she was being used without her knowledge? Who knew—maybe she was the mastermind behind the whole operation after all. We knew nothing for certain; I didn’t even have concrete evidence of her link to Tweil. Whatever the case, I would do well to think through the situation from the viewpoint of the worst-case scenario.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“While my father’s hands were tied due to my mistakes, the king was approached about disbanding the military. It was exactly what Tweil would have wanted. Looking back on it now, I have to wonder whether someone, maybe even Yuri herself, was puppeting the Darryl Church in order to attack me and to thereby incapacitate my father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That would make the most sense. The pope had been extremely intent on my excommunication—so much so that I had to wonder if he had been promised a handsome reward in exchange.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could almost hear the frustration steaming off of my three companions as I voiced my theory.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But our problem going forward will be the people who agreed with the proposal,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The second prince’s faction, I’m sure?” Lyle asked, just as I had expected him to.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but that’s not all. This time, a few members of the neutral faction decided they agreed as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? They did?” Lyle sounded genuinely surprised. Meanwhile, Tanya and Dida wore grave looks.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But how could that benefit them?” Lyle asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think they hope to lawfully expand their own garrisons.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, Lyle and Dida…as you know, the ruler of each domain is only allowed to keep the bare minimum number of soldiers, determined by the size of their domain.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "These were the last vestiges of a time when the provincial rulers had wielded more power. A number of problems had arisen from competing military strengths, and forming one large army under the crown had been a compromise in that regard. We still enjoyed that arrangement today.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Since then, the governors have always kept each other in check. And the kingdom keeps a watchful eye on any domain that seems to be amassing too much military force.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They did this in order to prevent any one domain from splitting off from the kingdom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Another proposal was brought up at the same time as the one to disband the military. They suggested that the crown divide the released soldiers between the domains, and as a consequence, every ruler would share the burden of overall military expenses. In case of war, the soldiers would return to fight on behalf of the kingdom. However, doing this would naturally return us to an age when the domains held an enormous amount of power. I can imagine quite a few families belonging to the neutral faction would welcome this, which means…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They want military strength in case something happens.” Dida finished my sentence for me. “But to put it more frankly…they’re turning their back on the kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Although I’m not sure if they actively want to split off from Tasmeria or if they just want to shore up their own domains.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And you want us to check on our own forces in case we have to fight them, Princess?” Dida asked. “Are you thinking of being both the sword and shield for the crown?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course not. I just want to be prepared, is all. What with all the troubles both at home and abroad, I want to ensure we can protect Armelia when the time comes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle remained unusually silent, perhaps still shocked by the revelation of the proposals.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… But…” Dida, meanwhile, sounded like his usual easygoing self, yet I could tell that he was serious. “The person who orders the soldiers to assemble in case of an emergency—that’d be the acting governor. In other words, it would be you, Princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At least, that’s what I thought would happen. Father would be busy spending his energy on the central government. Even so, if he’d been without my assistance as the acting governor, for such an important decision, I’m sure he would have sent personal orders from the capital, even if it took longer for those orders to arrive. Sebastian had run the general affairs of the duchy for a long time and to great success, but my father had never granted him the authority to give such orders. However, that wouldn’t be a concern with me, since I possessed all the powers an actual governor would have.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At any rate, if a prompt response was necessary, it would be better to have more authority than I intended to use than otherwise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you prepared for that, Princess?” Dida’s look was incredibly stern. “War means killing. It means getting hurt and possibly even dying yourself. One word from you, and that’s the situation you’d be putting your soldiers in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida,” Lyle interjected sharply.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida brushed him off. “Are you really prepared to give orders for people to kill and be killed, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle’s shout echoed. For a moment, the room fell deathly silent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Everyone must be prepared if we go to war,” said Lyle. “Prepared to lose our lives, hold a sword, and have our own two hands stained with the blood of our enemies. There’s no reason for Lady Iris to shoulder that burden all on her own.” His voice was quiet yet so firm that it resounded. I had, for a split second, almost faltered until I heard the affection in his tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure. I’m prepared for it, too,” said Dida. “But you don’t have the resolve necessary for the bloody bits, do you, Princess? That said, with one word, you send us out to the battlefield. Even if you won’t be there giving us orders directly, your words will be our guide. Our lives, and the lives of our citizens, will be in your hands. You’d be responsible for everyone standing out on that field, and in the aftermath as well. Isn’t that right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida looked at me. Lyle had shut his mouth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even if you never raise a hand to anyone, the mere act of signing the orders puts blood on your hands.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida was right. And his words had skewered my heart, which throbbed with pain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t pretend I was ignorant, no matter what the citizens thought of me. Everything could change with one order. Even if our ultimate reasons for going to war were to protect the people, by giving the order to fight, I would be sentencing many of them to their deaths. One word of mine really could mean life or the lack of it. I would also be involving citizens who didn’t want war.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If violence did break out, could I give the orders to fight?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not telling you that you have to be ready for that right now, Princess. But if you’re going to order us to prepare for such a scenario, then you’d best prepare yourself for what lies ahead, too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had told myself the same thing, but I didn’t yet have an answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right, Dida.” My voice sounded incredibly pathetic, but there was nothing I could do about it. Because it was pathetic. Here I was, telling Dida and Lyle to ready themselves, and I wasn’t ready at all. “I can’t answer your question yet. I need more time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. At any rate, we’ll get that report ready for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was surprised by Dida’s response; I had assumed that he would say he wouldn’t act until I could give him an answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well…” I said. “I look forward to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida and Lyle excused themselves, so I resumed my work. But I just couldn’t get that conversation out of my head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah!” And as a result, I made a mistake on the document I was working on. I was simply unable to concentrate. I set down my pen and stretched my arms high. My stiff joints cracked so loudly, it was hard to believe the sound was coming from the arms of a young girl. Still, all I could think of was that conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was no right answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The same thought had run through my head many times since I had become the acting governor. Once again, I’d hit that same wall. It was easy to let go of the fact if the problem was hypothetical. I could just tell myself I’d have to make my mind up when the time came, and that would be that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida wouldn’t be satisfied with such a wishy-washy response. Moreover, I knew that any bravado I used to cover up my true feelings would only fall apart at the eleventh hour. When that time came…I would no longer be able to lie to myself. In fact, I was afraid that I would completely lose my composure.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Up until this point, I’d been responsible for many fates, many lives. An incompetent leader got their citizens killed. But this matter was on a whole different level. People would be giving and taking lives, and I would be directly responsible for every last one. That put the lives of my citizens in my hands even more so than ever before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was such an immense responsibility that my former self would have shrunk away from it. I felt like I was doing the same thing now, for that matter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If only no one ever had to get hurt.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No, that thought was only a pretense. The real problem was that I was afraid to give the order.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If only I were really just inside of a game, I thought. Then perhaps there might be a perfect world where everyone was only ever kind to one another. No one would get hurt, and all the unsavory details would be brushed over like in a fairy tale or seen through rose-colored glasses.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, even in the game, Iris had been a villain who assumed single-handed responsibility for all the bad things that had happened. So really, there had never been a world where everyone was ever-so-kind. And this world was my reality. If it weren’t, its harshness wouldn’t be staring me in the face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the jumble of my thoughts, I found myself circling the dirty tricks I’d seen the nobility play in their political games and the incredible disparity between the rich and the poor—neither of which had been remotely highlighted in the game’s story. More thoughts like this popped into my head, one after another. I couldn’t stop thinking.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I should have Tanya bring me something to drink. There was no way I could keep working in this state. I was just about to call for Tanya when the mountain of papers on my desk collapsed. Sheets flew haphazardly up into the air. Ah, now I’ve really done it!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d spent so much time separating the documents, and now they were all mixed up again. Just thinking about the time and effort it would take to put them back in order made me upset.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya,” I called.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’m here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry, but I’m going to the parlor. Please have the maids prepare some tea for me. And can I ask you to straighten up these documents for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus did I end up abandoning everything and taking a break to leisurely sip tea by myself in the parlor. The beautiful flower arrangements usually cheered me up when I was feeling down, but nothing could reach me where I was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out a deep sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, Iris! Whatever is the matter? You look so depressed!” My mother suddenly appeared, her voice sweet and cheerful.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll have what Iris is having,” she told a maid before sitting down across from me. “Taking a break?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes… I’m a little tired.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s no good to bottle things up. Honestly, you’re just like your grandfather.” Mother was even beautiful when she giggled, and so was the movement of her hand as she brought the teacup to her mouth. I found myself staring at her sometimes, purely because she was so lovely—even though she was my own mother. “Are you sure it’s only fatigue? Because it seems like something is on your mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stiffened with surprise. Was I that obvious?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, let’s go outside. You start to think about all the worst things when you’re cooped up indoors for too long,” she declared, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Huh?” I blubbered as my mother dragged me along. She was stronger than she looked. I turned back and saw the maids all in a flutter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mother instructed me to get into the carriage waiting outside. Sometime later, I found myself following her up a long staircase in a tower so tall that you could look out over the entire capital from its top.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s gorgeous…” I murmured, marveling at the stunning view. The blue sky seemed close enough to touch, and the light of the sun gently embraced me. The city looked more beautiful than I’d ever seen it, bathed in the golden light.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it is beautiful, Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is this place, Mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A watchtower for the capital’s guards. I believe it still belongs to the military.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, I’m surprised we’re allowed up here.” After all, it was a military facility. Even though we were nobles, we were still civilians and therefore generally not permitted in such spaces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An easy feat when I use my father’s name.” I was in awe of my mother’s breezy tone. She smiled. “Ever since I was a child, I would come up here whenever I was worried about something. So all the guards recognize me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What kind of things worried you, Mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She laughed. “Oh, like when your father and I would get into a fight, or when he beat me when we sparred during martial arts class.” Her voice was always so light and airy. “And I also came here when my dream was shattered.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your dream? What are you talking about?” I couldn’t even imagine what Mother’s dream could be. She was called the Flower of High Society and prided herself in her elegance. She seemed like the kind of person who truly had it all. I had no idea what dream she could have had that she would’ve given up on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Long ago, I wanted to become a soldier.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the last thing I’d expected her to say, and my eyes widened with surprise. “A soldier?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I took martial arts lessons from the time I was very young, after my mother had been killed by bandits.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had never heard this story before, and my shock grew all the more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My father’s grief was immense. There he was, the man who had won so many victories on the battlefield and secured peace for the kingdom, yet he had been unable to protect his own wife. Not only that, but it was a citizen who he’d helped to protect who had stolen her away. It was unthinkable.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hurt squeezed my chest. My grandfather was a legendary war hero. A savior on the battlefield. But he had been unable to save my grandmother when she was killed by a citizen whom he had himself rescued from death.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, when my mother died, I began learning martial arts. Father didn’t object, because of what had happened to Mother. I didn’t learn the etiquette most young noblewomen do. Instead, I was a tomboy who yearned to become a soldier.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I kept thinking I couldn’t be more shocked, yet I was. How many times had my mother surprised me in this one conversation? I mean, this was my mother we were talking about! The lady everyone called the epitome of all noblewomen. I couldn’t believe she hadn’t learned etiquette until—who knew when!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure if it was because Father was such a good teacher or if it was as he said—that I just had a talent for it—but I never lost to any of his students, whether they were my age or older. The only one I can ever remember losing to was Father.” She giggled softly, but I couldn’t bring myself to join her. “So, at some point, I decided I wanted to become a soldier like him and protect the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But the person who killed Grandmother was a citizen of Tasmeria, right? So then why…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true. I hated the bandit who killed my mother, and at first, I couldn’t understand why my father still wanted to protect this kingdom. I’m not sure if I was driven by hatred or if I just wanted to learn how to protect myself. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking when I first started training.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, a darkness entered my mother’s smile. But it was only for a fleeting moment, and it was soon erased by the sun.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose that’s why I felt so empty when Father was the one who caught the bandit responsible for killing my mother. I wondered why I had spent so much time training. I lost my sense of purpose. And I came here to think about that a great deal. Why had I picked up a sword? I thought and thought, and thanks to this view, I put my mind and heart in order.” She gestured to the view below as if to say, See?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were so many people in the beautiful city below.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There are people in every one of those buildings. They go about their daily business. They laugh and they cry. They can do all those things because they’re alive. And I thought, isn’t that such a marvelous, wonderful thing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, there are wicked people out there, like that bandit. But there are even more helpless citizens. I wanted to make sure that they never had to endure a sudden tragedy like my family and I had. I wanted this peaceful land to last forever. I wanted to protect them, even if it meant getting blood on my hands.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hearing my mother’s resolve shook me to my core. “You were that determined at such a young age?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I had lost someone precious to me. I think perhaps that I had a very strong desire to never lose someone like that again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But reality didn’t bend my way. Women aren’t allowed in the military, even today. A few men I beat at a tournament confronted me with that bitter truth. With that, my dreams shattered into a million pieces, right then and there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What fragile little men they were, I thought, angry even though it had happened so long ago. But it was because of the hurt that I had lived through that I could empathize with what my mother had experienced back then.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you ever want to become a knight?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Some women were allowed to become knights in order to protect the women in the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t pick up a sword so I could protect the crown. And honestly, the lady knights are more for show than anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to agree. Although the lady knights of Tasmeria underwent a certain amount of training, they rarely saw any real action. They were never sent into battle for the same reason that the military didn’t send any women into the line of fire.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, when that happened, I came up here again. But it didn’t help. Because the goal I’d held for so long had vanished into thin air.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mother had no one left to take her revenge on, and the dream she’d forged in its place had been snatched away. I suddenly felt ashamed for ever thinking that Mother was the kind of person who’d always gotten what she wanted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that’s where I met my husband. Right here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You did?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. At the time, his father was the prime minister. He discovered this place on a tour of the capital, and he was so enamored with the view that he often came here just as I did.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I worried over how lax the security was in this place. I supposed it was fine, as no one had been hurt, but still…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So there I was, crying my eyes out, and your father just ignored me and kept staring out at the view—as if I was ruining the mood at his favorite thinking spot. Even though I was embarrassed, I took out my frustrations on him.” My mother’s cheeks turned pink—it sounded as if this had been the beginning of their romance, so I was starting to feel a bit shy hearing about it, too. “But you know how your father is. He scolded me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He did?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. He said, ‘You must not have wanted it very badly at all if you’re giving up so easily.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t believe Father had said that to a poor, crying girl! I had to wonder why Mother looked so happy telling me the story.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He said, ‘Why did you take up your sword in the first place? Was it for honor and glory, or was it to protect the citizens? If it’s the former, then keep crying. But if it’s the latter, then why in the world would you cry at all?’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“‘Why would you cry at all?’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm-hmm. I think what he was trying to say was ‘There’s another way to achieve your goal.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ah, I understood. If Mother’s dream had been to become a soldier to fight and earn honor and glory, then her dreams had been completely dashed. But if her goal was to protect the citizens…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He said, ‘If you want to protect the citizens, you have more than one way of doing so. You can support them in other ways. In my case, I protect them not with my sword but with my pen. Although, I’m not nearly as skilled at it as my father.’” Mother smiled. “His words shook me. It felt as if I’d just woken up. After that, we entered an arranged marriage. But I respected him so much that I quickly fell in love. We got married, and then I decided to set foot on another type of battleground.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. The battleground of high society is a completely different beast.” She said that with a smile so proud and bright that I had to laugh in return.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was right. It was a battleground. Perhaps she had become so powerful on that field because she had grown strong by experiencing real fighting. She used her husband’s network to gain information and leveraged his power to gather more goodwill and influence for herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for bringing me here today, Mother. May we stay and look at the view for a bit longer?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once we got home, I climbed into bed prepared to fall into a deep sleep right away. But I was wide awake and couldn’t drift off. I couldn’t stop thinking about my conversation with my mother and the view from the watchtower.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wanted to make sure that they never had to endure such a sudden tragedy like my family and I had. I wanted this peaceful land to last forever.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The look on her face had been so heartbreakingly lovely when she said that. And I don’t mean her physical beauty—more like the tender, caring serenity of a mother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "How did I feel about my citizens? I thought back on everything I’d done so far. I couldn’t help but laugh—because it was the same thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When I’d met Mina and the other children from the orphanage—no, it had started before that, when I was touring the duchy and had made up my mind. I’d never governed before, obviously. But I’d been granted power under the title of acting governor. The lives of all my citizens depended on every step I took, every decision I made. I felt the weight of responsibility for every single document that passed across my desk. I did that work to protect those lives.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I already had my resolve, didn’t I?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that my brush with excommunication had made me soft. I’d been worried that perhaps having me as a leader had put Armelia at a dreadful disadvantage and that everything I did would leave the duchy in ruins.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those thoughts had run through my mind, even though it was no time to be bogged down by such a mindset. I had to power through. The citizens and the entire duchy were already wrapped up in my affairs. It was far too late to say I wasn’t prepared. If I wanted my plans to come to fruition, my only option was, as ever, to keep going. I could not lose sight of my goal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If I faltered now, then so too would the people who had chosen to follow me, and all the citizens under my protection as well. So I had to do everything in my power to protect them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All at once, the knot of anxiety inside me unraveled. At last, I fell into a peaceful, dream-filled sleep.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day, I called Lyle and Dida to my study.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How may we be at your service, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve made a decision,” I told them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle’s eyes widened, and Dida gave me an amused grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida, you asked me yesterday if I was prepared.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That I did.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know I hesitated when you asked me that, but I’ve thought about it, and hard. I realize now that you should have asked me that question a long time ago.” Dida stared at me blankly as I spoke. “Because I’ve been prepared to protect the citizens of this duchy from the very beginning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So much that you’d spill blood to protect them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes…and no.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now it was Lyle’s turn to look puzzled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled grimly. “I already hold thousands of lives in my hands. My role is to protect the duchy and its people. So, if the time comes when it is necessary to give the orders to mobilize our soldiers, then of course I will. And I will take responsibility for all that comes with that decision.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was no perfect world in which no one ever got hurt. I had known that from the beginning.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But I’m going to fight with everything I have to ensure that doesn’t happen. I have no wish for us to get swept up in the unfolding struggles. I’m not thinking about how to win a war—I’m thinking of how to avoid one in the first place. I will be making my first move toward that end.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you want to protect the citizens, you have more than one way of doing so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those words, which my father had said to my mother long ago, applied to me right now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d been so caught up in thinking about what I would do if war broke out and how I would take responsibility for it. How would I respond as the acting governor? But that wasn’t what I should have been focusing on. There was more than one way for me to deal with this. I could anticipate what would happen next, gather intelligence, and prepare countermeasures for every possible outcome. My greatest weapons were my pen, my head, and my words. Military force would always be the last resort, only to be used once I had played all the other cards in my hand. That was my responsibility as the acting governor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But if I decide that there is no other way forward but to fight… Lyle, Dida, I’ll be counting on you to ensure that the bare minimum of blood is spilled. And I will take full responsibility for having exhausted all other options,” I said firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For some reason, Dida started to laugh. Had I said something funny? I thought this was all terribly serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a wonderful resolve you have, and said in the sweetest way possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dida!” Lyle exclaimed indignantly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But it’s fine. That’s why we have such a strong desire to protect you, Princess. You, and the things precious to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Had I passed his test?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why don’t you just be honest with your feelings for once?” Lyle said with exasperation. “My lady, we shall serve as your shield and your sword. We shall deliver you from every fear. And if fear is all you have left, please let us be your bastion. We shall protect you no matter what. You, and the things precious to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He gave me the knight’s salute. Dida assumed the same position by his side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Lyle and Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If they still didn’t want to lose me—if they still wanted to protect me—then I had to do everything I could to fight.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While I was racking my brain coming up with plans, Sei had been busy at work addressing the sudden raise in import taxes that had lately plagued Armelia. Meanwhile, I started maneuvering against the companies under Prince Edward’s protection. All of his businesses were suffering from poor sales and management. Not only that, but the person managing the companies was involved in dodgy dealings and tried to usurp the valid successor to take complete control.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had my people work behind the scenes to worsen the business’s already dreadful condition, and when their hands were tied, we had the board oust the shady manager and reinstate the rightful successor. Then, we approached the new head of the company with a contract.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The business would keep its name, but it would take over all shipping for the Azuta Corporation’s goods. You see, the increased tariffs only applied to businesses based in Armelia. In other words, if this non-Armelian business shipped our goods for us, we would only be taxed the standard rate. Other Armelian-based businesses had approached non-Armelian companies with similar contracts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This worked nicely for us in a number of ways; it was one thing to cut costs by dodging high tariffs, but now we wouldn’t have to cover the costs of hiring guards for the trade caravans either.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave out the initial orders, but afterward, I had Sei work alone to finish things up. He’d really come to the rescue this time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "None of this solved the underlying problem, though. It was now on me to standardize the tariffs laid on us by our neighboring domains. It would by no means be easy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was clear to me that our neighbors had raised tariffs for reasons outside of pure economics. However, even if they had resisted whatever political pressure had been put on them to do this, the second queen, who had directed them, would remain in power. She would eagerly seize the next opportunity to crush us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was the daughter of the prime minister, but neither I nor the territorial governors possessed ultimate authority. The only person who did was the king—although the king was currently ill and indisposed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even if he’d been well, I don’t know that he could have done anything. The governors controlled regional tariffs. Even in times of peace, when the king could leverage his ultimate authority in a number of ways, he still had no say over those.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, the regional lords were being controlled by other means, and I had to deal with that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At any rate, I had done what I set out to do, so it was time to return to the duchy. Even though Sebastian was skilled at his work, there would inevitably be a backlog of documents awaiting my approval.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ah, but it might not be so bad if only Dean were there to help, I thought as I straightened up the paperwork.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya, I’m thinking of returning to the duchy,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think that’s an excellent idea. I’ll get everything arranged.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ah, that’s right. I had to say the proper goodbyes and tie up all my loose ends here in the capital, so I wouldn’t be able to leave right away. “Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I missed Armelia. It wasn’t like I’d been away for years, like I had when I was in school. But for some reason, it felt like I hadn’t been home in a very long time. I supposed that was partially because of how busy my days in the capital had been.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, you’ve received a letter from Lady Mimosa.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took the letter from Tanya and broke the seal with my letter opener. I felt like I was much better at speed-reading than I had been.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, there was a knock at the door. Tanya went ahead and opened it. As she stood there and spoke with the servant who was behind it, her expression grew more and more severe.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Send him away at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya’s voice was cold and forceful. The servant sounded a bit frightened but didn’t back down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fine. I’ll go instead,” Tanya snapped, ending the conversation. However, the servant looked thoroughly relieved to hear that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Who in the world could be calling who would warrant such a reaction? I frowned. “Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady. I’ll deal with this.” Her tone made it clear that she didn’t want me to know who it was; she hoped to take care of it before I found out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But if someone had come to visit me, I had to know who.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, Tanya. Who’s here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You needn’t concern yourself with it, my lady. I’ll take care of everything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya.” I said her name more firmly this time, and she let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Van Lutasha has come to see you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Van?” I had certainly never expected to hear that name, and I was honestly a bit flustered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You shouldn’t see him while Lyle and Dida are away. Who knows what he might have up his sleeve? Not to mention, it’s beyond rude to visit without contacting us first.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was true, especially as I’d never actually had a conversation with him before. He hadn’t wanted to hear me out when I was in trouble, so why should I listen to what he had to say?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded. “All right. I’ll let you take care of it, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even so, what in the world was Van doing here? I was so curious, I could hardly stand it. Did it have something to do with my recent brush with excommunication? As a consequence of that, Van’s father, the former pope, had been released from his duties and thrown in jail. I would have thought he would visit anyone else in the world before me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For starters, Yuri Neuer had gained a great deal of influence since her engagement to Ed. After all, he was the second prince, and his grandfather was Marquis Marea, who prided himself in having so much power that his wishes became law nearly as soon as he imagined them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On the other hand, it would have been difficult for Van to meet Berne, as my brother had been spending so much time working under Father. Likewise, Dorssen seemed rather busy since joining the knights. But, well, my schedule was pretty packed, too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I just wanted to finish my business and go home. Surely Van wouldn’t come all the way to Armelia to see me. What would he even say if he saw me? The mere thought of it irritated me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve returned, my lady.” Tanya entered the room again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That was awfully fast.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. He left.” Her tone was derisive, but her face was utterly composed. She had to have been exceptionally irritated. I would have to reward her later.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But first, the important questions: “What did he say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not a thing—because I chased him out of here before he could even open his mouth.” Tanya was smiling, but her eyes were not. In fact, the aura she emanated was so icy that I grew chilly, and goosebumps rose all down my arms. I wanted to ask exactly how she had chased him off, but frankly, I was too afraid.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, I’m sure she wouldn’t do anything too bad. At least, I hoped she wouldn’t. “All right, then. Me sitting here thinking about it isn’t going to accomplish anything. Will you straighten up those documents for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course.” This time, she responded with a genuine smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I want you to look into what’s going on with Van.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya had become quite the spy. Of course, House Armelia had numerous people whose main occupation was espionage, but she did a better job of it, if you asked me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To be more precise, those other individuals worked for my father. But after my tussle with the church and everything that had come with it, I’d realized just how precious information could be; I had started gathering spies who were loyal specifically to me. It was difficult to find people you could trust so completely, so I had only a few thus far. I therefore had to heavily rely on my parents’ and grandfather’s connections.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s hurry up and finish our work here so we can go home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But before I left the capital, I went out on the town. I didn’t have much time, but since I was there, I wanted to clear my mind for a bit and do some shopping purely for pleasure. I could also buy some presents to take back to everyone who had remained at the duchy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What should I get them, though?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I imagined Rehme and Moneda would like some kind of sweets, the kind one could only find in the capital. Their work was so cerebral, so eating something sweet would refresh their minds. However, both Merida and Sei spent a lot of time in the kitchen, so sweets didn’t seem appropriate for them…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure they’ll love whatever you choose, my lady,” Tanya said, to which I chuckled wryly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes it even more difficult! If I’m giving them a present, I want it to be something they want, or at least something they can use.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was slightly disguised as we walked through town, just as usual. I narrowed down the shops to a few I particularly wanted to visit. I was still mulling over the perfect gifts to get everyone when I suddenly spotted someone familiar.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? Dean?” I couldn’t believe it was really him. A woman was walking with him. What was he doing here? And who was she?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A jumble of confused thoughts ran through my head, and a feeling of uneasiness wound around my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, I supposed Dean was free to be wherever he wanted, and with whomever he wanted. I couldn’t deny that in my head, but the anxiety in my heart simply wouldn’t go away. I felt utterly childish. I had to laugh at the jealousy welling within me; it had come seemingly out of nowhere—I was surprised.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When Dean noticed me, a matching look of surprise flashed across his face. Even that reaction annoyed me. Did he not want to see me? Was I an interruption? Although, I supposed that under normal circumstances, it was always awkward to run into your boss outside of the workplace.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well. I wasn’t having fun anymore. Time to go home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tragically, it would have looked terribly unnatural if I just turned on my heel and walked in the opposite direction—and I hadn’t bought the presents yet either.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s good to see you again, my lady.” Dean greeted me. Did he feel an obligation to do so since we had made eye contact?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s been a long time, Dean. I wasn’t expecting to run into you in the capital. And who is this?” I tried my very best to smile as I asked, but honestly, I wasn’t confident it was successful.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The beautiful girl standing next to Dean smiled far more brightly, her eyes shining. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Letty. I’ve heard so much about you from my brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your brother?” Now that I looked at them more closely, it all made sense. Letty did look very much like Dean. The only difference was that Dean’s eyes were emerald green, but hers were a bright peridot color.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. My family is very overprotective of me, so I’m not allowed to go out by myself. And when my brother goes to visit you, I’m the one who takes over his work. I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to meet you sooner.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ah, then I owe her some gratitude for helping me out, by extension. I should thank her. I hadn’t said my name yet…but it would have been a bad idea to do so openly, out here in the street. “Your brother has been an invaluable assistant, time and again. Please forgive me for being unable to properly introduce myself in these circumstances.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all! I understand your position, my lady. Actually, I’ve been yearning to sit down and have a nice long talk with you. I want to make sure my brother is pulling his weight for you.” Letty’s smile reminded me of nothing so much as a flower in full bloom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, please dismiss my sister. I know you’re dreadfully busy, and I can’t imagine you’d have time to talk to—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you afraid she’ll tell me something bad about you, Brother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Letty! What am I going to do with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was amused to see Dean react so unusually; he looked flustered, unsure of what to do. I had never seen him like this before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my!” I couldn’t help but laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Letty glanced over at me and giggled as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine with me,” I told her. “But let’s find somewhere else to talk.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, we made our way to a nearby restaurant. The establishment was run by an Armelian business, so we secured a private room right away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please allow me to formally introduce myself,” I said once we were seated. “I am Iris Lana Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Letty said with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean really has helped me out so much. I’m sorry he’s always leaving you to come help me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s quite all right. I like the work. But most of all, I deeply respect you, so I enjoy every minute of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You do?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. Letty had never even met me before. How could she respect me? But her eyes were sparkling so much that I had a hard time believing she was only saying that to be polite.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I heard that the economic reforms you initiated in Armelia once you became acting governor were simply remarkable. And I’ve heard of so many people who relocated to Armelia because the quality of life is so much better there now. I truly respect your abilities. But most of all, it makes me so happy to have a conversation with a woman who’s out there on the front lines.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She spoke as if she could read my thoughts. She was young, and she was adorable, but yes—she was definitely Dean’s sister, all right.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. Shall I take that to mean you have an occupation as well? What sort of responsibilities does it entail?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mainly pen my brother’s documents and sift through various bits of information. I also do some behind-the-scenes maneuvering for negotiations that would’ve come to my brother, I suppose you could say? It isn’t so much that I take over his work, but I am always helping him put his work together and getting it executed the way he likes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re too humble. It takes patience and perseverance to compose documentation, as well as to use the knowledge you’ve gained to influence negotiations. Even in my work as the acting governor, the bulk of my job is creating and sorting through documents. We’re basically doing a lot of the same things!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, but in your case, you make important decisions and take responsibility for them. That’s completely different from what I do. I’m sincerely flattered, nevertheless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We continued talking for some time, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying my time with Letty.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?! You’ve had that happen, too, Lady Iris?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, several times. After you spend so many hours buried in documents, your head feels so heavy!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know… It’s especially bad the next morning if you’ve worked all night.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, same for me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We had come to the topic of our health woes and were trading ways to combat stress. Quite unusual topics of conversation for most young maidens, to be sure. I always felt like the girls my age preferred talking about love and trendy bakeries or some such.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was evident from our conversation that Letty really was doing Dean’s work and not just saying so; we were able to commiserate about our worries because we shared so many of them. In fact, we were so absorbed in our discussion that we ended up completely ignoring poor Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was a lull in our talk, and abruptly, the smile vanished from Letty’s face, replaced by a somber expression. “Lady Iris, I only assist my brother, but from my perspective, it seems as if you do the work of two or three people. Perhaps you should let someone lighten your workload, as I do for my brother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve lightened it as much as I can, I’m afraid. I have employees I trust to help with the corporation, and I have loyal assistants who work under me managing the duchy—and that includes your brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And is my brother truly helpful?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Absolutely. He’s profoundly attentive to detail and does such careful work. If not for him, I would have collapsed from overwork long ago.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I meant everything I said; Dean was truly my right-hand man. It was difficult for me to express in words, but I felt like he could carry out my instructions just as well as, or even better than, Sebastian, Sei, Rehme—even Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was only natural that being in their positions, they would do their utmost to follow my instructions to the letter. Dean, on the other hand, wasn’t bound by the same feelings. That was why he could give me his honest opinions. He’d hear me out when I rattled off an idea that popped into my head, help me organize and streamline my thoughts, tell me just how much of the idea was actually feasible, and then give me another opinion to work off of.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a result, I was able to work more quickly and efficiently, since I didn’t have to mull over all of the complications by myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that right? I suppose he does pay attention to the fine details. That’s why I can’t slack off even a little bit when I do work for him…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to laugh at that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Letty, at least say those things when I’m not around,” Dean sighed. It was the first thing he’d said since our conversation began.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Dean, who knows when I might see Lady Iris again? I have to tell her everything that’s on my mind right away!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mentioned you’re not allowed to go out much?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. My family truly is overprotective. And since my brother travels so much, if I took too much time off, my work would just pile up and cause all sorts of trouble for those who work below me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Do you normally stay in the capital, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed, I do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m sure I’ll be back. I’ll make sure we see each other then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, we ought to be going…” Tanya informed me reluctantly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Time really does fly when you’re having fun.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry I kept you for so long, Lady Iris,” said Letty. “Please let me know when you come back to the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course. And I’ll visit those places you recommended.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the course of our conversation, Letty had told me of several shops that were especially fashionable at the moment. I intended to visit them to find those gifts I wanted for everyone back home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hope you find some wonderful presents.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. Dean? I’ll be waiting for you back in the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He nodded. “Yes. I just need to finish tying up some business here, and then I’ll see you in Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, I left to resume my search for the gifts. I had to buy them on this trip, as we were leaving the capital the next day. I ended up purchasing handkerchiefs for Merida and Sei, and sweets for the rest of the crew.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was feeling quite satisfied with my purchases on the carriage ride home, but my good mood was dashed as soon as we returned to the mansion and I saw who awaited me there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris!” He cried my name and raced over to me. Lyle and Dida then stepped in front of me protectively. “I’ve been wanting to see you! Lady Iris, please listen to me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew the man, of course. “Van… What are you doing here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle and Dida tensed when I said his name. Van looked distressed, likely because Tanya had already chased him off once.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why?” he asked. “Because there’s something I need to talk to you about! Before, they told me you weren’t home and sent me away, but today, I decided to wait for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is beyond rude, Van!” Tanya snarled. “Showing up here without notice! How dare you disrespect House Armelia in such a way?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle and Dida didn’t speak, but I could tell they were thinking the same thing. They looked furious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fine, then,” I said. “We can’t be seen like this, so come along inside.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Iris!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve no interest in causing any more of a commotion out here. I’ll hear what you have to say, Van. Inside.” I realized my tone was short, but I didn’t respond well to people who just showed up unannounced on my doorstep. I heaved an irritated sigh and entered the mansion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite strict around here, aren’t you?” said Van once we were in my study. From the moment he set foot in the mansion, he had been received with caution and hostility. As we walked, Lyle, Dida, and Tanya had remained at my side to protect me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you think you would be welcomed with open arms?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, my apologies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well? What was it you wanted to say? I’m returning to Armelia tomorrow, so I’d appreciate it if you kept this short.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a favor to ask of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes?” Granted, I had asked him to keep it short, but I was surprised by this sudden request. Really, how dare he ask a favor of me at all?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pure malice radiated from my three escorts; it was like they wanted to pounce on him and would do so at the least provocation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want you to give testimony for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me?” I’d suspected Van would say something to that effect, but I hadn’t imagined he would actually be so bold.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know it’s shameless to ask this of you after all the trouble I caused you, but I’m in a terrible position. The Darryl Church is in a state of complete chaos. I fear its troubles will ripple out and impact all of Tasmeria. I understand that my father was the one who instigated this chaos, and that you were his victim—but that means that if we could demonstrate a cooperative spirit, we might just be able to prevent the situation from worsening.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van was right in saying that the Darryl Church was on unstable ground, following the imprisonment of the former pope and other high-ranking officials who had been held responsible for conspiracy. I had heard that the nobles known to collude with the pope and his faction were also currently under investigation. In reality, those nobles were scapegoats. They were all minor figures—not the masterminds behind the whole thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s true that the chaos within the church will negatively impact the kingdom,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case…” Van looked at me hopefully.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But too bad for you. I leveled a stare at him and asked icily, “However, how could it possibly be to my advantage to cooperate with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Advantage?” Van repeated the word as if he didn’t know what it meant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Advantage. If I cooperate with you, what’s in it for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shouldn’t your first priority as a noble be to save the kingdom from all possible danger?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How amusing. Am I correct in saying none of this ever would have happened had the church not falsely accused me?” I laughed—a laugh that came from deep in my belly. “It’s a little late to be concerned about the kingdom’s stability. At present, the nobility is divided into two factions arguing over who should be the next king. Well, three actually, if you count the neutral faction. If this situation drags out any longer, it will be a miracle in and of itself if Tasmeria survives at all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t know how to keep it intact, though I respected the people who were trying to do so. If the power struggle spread, it would affect the citizen’s daily lives. If that happened, it would be no surprise if a neighboring country took advantage of our internal strife to wage an attack. In short, it would be commendable indeed if anyone were able to nip our succession crisis in the bud.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to compare running a domain to governing a whole kingdom, but I was without a doubt the most skilled governor in Tasmeria. No one opposed me in Armelia, so I could push forward any new policies I wanted without disruption—I was the beginning and end of the chain of command.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But a kingdom is different; you must always consider how to protect yourself from the forces who oppose your actions, wonder if or when your allies will betray you, and doubt whether they were ever truly your allies in the first place. Despite all that, you must strive to run things smoothly. Add a stressful environment on top of that, and you have a dreadful job—one where, and this would be no exaggeration, one wrong step could lead you to endanger the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hm, maybe I should give my father some heartburn medication.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All these thoughts ran through my head as I stared at Van. “You were party to worsening that divide, and now you’re saying you want to save the kingdom from falling into chaos by joining forces with me? Where is this coming from?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t do anything to endanger the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, you’re naive, then? You really are awfully close to Prince Edward,” I said with a derisive chuckle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That must have hit him where it hurt, because he frowned. “We went to the same school. It’s only natural we’d be close.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not only natural, and that’s why I say it. The academy is a microcosm of aristocratic society. It would be natural for you to cleave to the same faction your parents support. I don’t know whether it was the prince’s favor you were courting or Yuri’s, but after seeing you grow so cozy, anyone would think that you, and by extension your father, supported Prince Edward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Honestly, Berne and I had behaved injudiciously as well. Normally, upon my engagement to the prince, Berne should have distanced himself from Ed, but instead, Berne had grown closer to him through Yuri. I understood now how my father had felt when he’d given me that lecture after I was expelled—or at least, I understood him now even more than I had then.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You exacerbated the power struggle in this kingdom. So having you come to me, saying you want to better this country? All I can do is laugh.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Van closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, a deeply pained expression was carved onto his face. Had I gone too far? “I’m fully aware of my impudence. That’s exactly why I must take responsibility for my actions. I want to do everything I can to ensure the situation doesn’t spiral out of control.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And your first step is trying to join me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Van hesitated a bit and then nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I take that back—I didn’t go too far at all. I heaved a sigh at his heel-turn. All I could do after was let out a dry laugh. “It’s inevitable that things would be messy before a major revolution. Especially when the leaders of the old regime are not only ousted but arrested.” I closed my fan with a snap. “Quite frankly, the corruption within the church was unacceptable. You pocketed money you collected from the nobles instead of distributing it to the citizens.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The clergy needs to make a living, too. And—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you say it can’t be helped, you can turn around and get out of my house right now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Van’s face tightened at my menacing tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A non-insignificant sum flowed from taxes straight back into the church,” I said. “Do you have any idea how much effort it took to collect that money in the first place?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our tax collectors did not have an easy job. Not only did they have to manage sums, they also had to assign a reasonable rate to every citizen. It was an incredibly difficult task. As the acting governor, I couldn’t overlook Van’s blasé attitude about the money our citizens paid to sustain our society.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As if that wasn’t enough,” I went on, “think of all the donations you collected, all the charity galas you held. Where in the world did all that money go?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…” Van looked uneasy, as if he wanted to say he didn’t know. But he must have realized that if he did say as much, I would lose it, because he quickly shut his mouth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t know”—I could have said those same words so many times in the past. Until I had regained the memories of my past life, I’d taken my station for granted and never questioned anything. Even now, I wasn’t sure whether I could hold my head high and say I was fulfilling my responsibilities as a noble. At the very least, I was now more aware of my surroundings. That was a fact.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The church abused its power. My excommunication is a clear example of that. Yes, our political state is fraught as a consequence of uncovering its deceptions, but if that means the church can no longer interfere with the business of running our kingdom, then that’s a win for Tasmeria. It is a far more concrete good than me making much of cooperating with another noble to create the illusion of peace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van bit his lip and looked downward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thus, no, I will not cooperate with you. You may excuse yourself.” I rose from my seat, a signal for him to leave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, wait!” Van stepped toward me, and Tanya, Lyle, and Dida all stood in his way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is there something else?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I—I only…!” As he stammered and pleaded, I found myself looking indifferently at him. “What should I do?! Please help me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Help him, hm? I had to laugh. “And why should I help you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m the villainess who abused poor, kind Yuri, remember? You and Prince Edward publicly denounced me. So why in the world would I ever help you—without good reason?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My voice was so cold that it actually surprised me. I could clearly hear Van begging me for help, but I didn’t care. I felt neither sympathy nor pity, not even satisfaction that the tables had turned. I just felt nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It made me realize just how insignificant Van was to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My father had the papacy taken from him. I thought Yuri wouldn’t care, but she suddenly started acting like I didn’t exist. She treated me as if I were invisible!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, Yuri had only ever wanted Van for the power he held through the church. To be honest, hearing his plight only made me more impressed with her. I’m sure it had felt wonderfully refreshing to be able to cut ties with him so cleanly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Everyone else in my life has suddenly changed as well—they treat me so callously. I…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So what?” I asked flatly. “The person you love is acting like you don’t exist? Everyone else turned their backs on you and is treating you like an inconvenience? I honestly don’t care—because you didn’t care when it happened to me, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His face twisted at my sarcastic tone. “Yes, you’re right. And I understand I’m partly responsible for getting you expelled. Even I think I’m a true idiot for coming here because of that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, so you do understand! Wonderful! Now leave.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But I can’t give up. I want revenge on all the people who turned on me. I don’t want this to end with me doing nothing!” he screamed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van had always been so kind and gentle—he sure had changed. I took in the man in front of me, his face contorted with rage as he seethed. He clung to his rage, despite knowing he had no chance to really find satisfaction; I simply couldn’t believe he was that same person I had known back at the academy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fine, you’re right,” he snarled. “If I’m being honest, I don’t care about the kingdom. I came to you because I want revenge on those who abandoned me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well? Say you get revenge—then what? Beg for Yuri’s love? Plead for the others to stay by your side?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. They’ve abandoned me. I don’t care about them at all, not anymore. I just want to do this for my own sake!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "How incredibly self-serving. But I couldn’t dismiss him out of hand, because I knew what that felt like. After everything I’d endured, I had certainly felt the desire to get revenge. However, that was what made this situation precarious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was a defining difference between Van and me: Revenge wasn’t my driving goal. The citizens were what kept me from growing too attached to the idea. As I looked at Van, it was clear that he felt no such impediment. There was only one thing on his mind, and it was all he wanted. Even more dangerously, I got the feeling that he would stop at nothing in order to achieve his goal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I sat back down across from him. “So that’s why you really want to join forces with me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Van nodded. It made sense now; he had guessed that I also nursed a desire to have my revenge, and so, of all his options, he had chosen me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately for him, it just wouldn’t work out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No amount of pushing from me will get you the papacy. The church is already being restructured from the ground up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d been discussing the matter with Father Rafsimons, and according to his report, there was no way Van could ever become pope. First of all, nearly every high-ranking member of the church had not only been ousted; they had been thrown in jail. Now the majority opinion was that the cardinals should choose the next pope from among themselves.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Honestly, instead of backing you, I’d rather support Father Rafsimons, since he’s being so very shrewd about all this. Not only do you no longer have the backing of the church, you’re also inexperienced in all other matters. At this point, it will be incredibly difficult for you to remain with the organization in any capacity.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van’s position was hanging by a thread. If not for this incident, he would have entered the main church in the capital to undergo training as the next pope and gained his experience there. Now they wanted to do away with hereditary succession. Moreover, they were doing everything they could to wash away the old regime, so Van’s existence was worse than an obstruction—the church wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. I honestly wondered if they’d even let him continue being a member of the clergy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“However, I could place you at an acquaintance’s church,” I said. “As a regular clergyman, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could certainly ask Father Rafiel for this favor. We had a personal connection, and I trusted his abilities. Of course, this would all depend on whether or not Father Rafiel agreed to it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Keep in mind, this is only a clergyman position. It will be a far cry from becoming pope, and I’m not sure if you’d ever be able to work at the main church. But the people in this church trust what they see with their own eyes instead of the rumors they hear. If you hone your skills and show what you’re made of, it’s possible they’ll warm up to you, and you might earn a higher appointment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What would Van do?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The answer: He didn’t show any hesitation whatsoever.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We exchanged a written agreement, and he left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you show him such kindness?” Lyle asked, sounding none too happy about it. I thought it interesting that Tanya hadn’t been the first to speak up, but I understood as soon as I saw the understanding on her face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Was it kindness?” I asked with a chuckle. Lyle gave me a puzzled look. “Tanya, prepare letters for both Father Rafsimons and Father Rafiel right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady,” Tanya responded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As I told Van, the Darryl Church is undergoing a complete restructuring. That doesn’t mean everyone agrees with it, as I’m sure you can imagine.” The high-ranking clergymen hadn’t been the only ones lining their pockets with donations—their noble sponsors had benefited as well. I doubted in the extreme that they were just sitting on their hands while they watched the church be upended. They were absolutely going to try to disrupt the proceedings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was entirely possible that those people would try to use Van’s lineage and his vulnerable state to their advantage, even raising him up as a banner around which to rally. That was why I wanted Van on my side—before any others could take him away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s going to use his frustration as fuel, and that’s when my assistance will come in handy. Father Rafsimons will tell me what Van’s up to so I can use him to my advantage. Moreover, nothing I told Van was a lie. Father Rafiel went to medical school in order to serve the citizens. His philosophies overlap with Father Rafsimons’s, and if Van works with him, he might well open up a new path to the main church for himself. If he does, I can call in the debt he owes me when it’s time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was doing all this because I believed in Father Rafsimons’s power.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“On the other hand, if Van abandons his quest for revenge, then that’s fine as well. I’ll know what he’s up to, and I’ll have countermeasures ready in advance for anything. If he steps out of line, I’ll know immediately.” I smiled. “Also, if I take care of Van, Father Rafsimons will owe me a favor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…” Lyle nodded. “In that case, I’ll keep an eye on him and those he keeps close.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was just thinking about asking you to do so. No matter how the situation turns out, I benefit from it. Do you still think I was showing him kindness?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment Van came asking me for a favor, I’d known that it would end up benefiting me. I could laugh about it forever. And what was wrong with that? I was the villainess in this story, but Van had chosen to come to me, even if as a last resort.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya let out a sigh once she finished brushing her hair.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was nearly midnight. Iris had fallen fast asleep, and since then, Tanya had been busy getting things ready to depart. Now that she was finally done, she was about to go to sleep herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sometimes Iris would half-jokingly ask her, “What? You actually sleep?” But Tanya was only human. She nevertheless did find herself wondering the same thing about Sebastian from time to time. He never showed any signs of fatigue and always had a pleasant look on his face, which impressed her. She strove to be like him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "These piecemeal thoughts flitted through Tanya’s head as she reached down and picked up a ribbon from her desk. She, Rehme, Merida, and Iris all had matching ribbons. She couldn’t recall exactly when they had gotten them. Probably before she had even begun training to be a maid.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A traveling merchant had come through Armelia and had asked Iris if she wanted anything.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure? Not the one with the gemstones?” Duke Armelia had looked bewildered when Iris chose a relatively plain ribbon instead of the fancier, more expensive options. Duchess Armelia had also encouraged her to choose a more fitting accessory.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I want this one. And I want four of them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once Iris had the four ribbons, she passed out three of them to her girl companions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now we all match,” she had said with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To Tanya, the ribbon was expensive, but to the daughter of a duke like Iris, it was dirt cheap. Yet she spoke of it as if it were a treasure.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry if it’s not what you would’ve chosen,” said Iris. “I just wanted us all to have the same one. I hope you’ll accept it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The ribbons were priceless treasures to the three girls—because they were heartfelt gifts from Iris. Tanya truly felt fortunate. Luck had led her to be at that place and time where Iris found her. If they hadn’t met, Tanya would surely have died.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She didn’t know how long she had been left alone. She had most likely been abandoned by her parents, left to fend for herself in the slums of the city where the most destitute gathered. Being so young and so helpless, there were many days when Tanya had nothing to eat. Gradually, she had grown weaker and weaker.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some days back then, all Tanya could do was sit on the ground and look up at the sky. Sometimes she saw a mother and child walking hand in hand through town, and an overwhelming urge to cry would well up in her chest. It didn’t take long at all for Tanya to begin wondering: If she was just going to die alone, then should she just give up on living at all? She began to wish she could hurry up and get it over with—that she could disappear forever.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then one fateful day, two men Tanya had never seen before approached her. She didn’t remember what they had said, but she instinctively knew by the coaxing smiles on their faces that these men were no friends. Even though she had all but given up on living, her body reacted to imminent danger. She got up and ran.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya ran and ran, but a frail little girl whose body was weak from malnourishment couldn’t run for very long. The men closed in, about to catch her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then Iris saved her. Tanya was blindly running, but she happened to end up on the main street. She bolted out into it, right in front of Iris’s carriage.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The carriage halted, Iris rushed out from it, and Tanya knew instantly they were from two entirely different worlds. She managed to nod at this alien girl.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so glad! Hey…is there somewhere we can take you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya shook her head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Well, why don’t you come home with me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. It doesn’t matter. You saved me—that’s enough. I can’t trouble you again. I got away from them this time, but…there’s nothing else to be done.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t—don’t give up on yourself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, Iris insisted on taking Tanya home with her, even though her servants tried to convince her otherwise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was how Iris saved her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It just seemed like you were in so much danger,” Iris had said. “I told my father about those men.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya only learned later that the men who had approached her made their money by kidnapping orphans and selling them off as slaves for cheap. They gave up on Tanya after they saw Iris and her servants making a fuss, but thanks to Iris’s description of the men, they were soon apprehended and arrested.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Starting today, you’re going to be living here with us,” Iris said. “What’s your name?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I…don’t know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. What do you think about Tanya? It’s the name of a very clever princess in a fairy tale book.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris reached out and clutched Tanya’s hand, sunshine illuminating her smile. The warmth of her hand reminded Tanya of the families she had seen walking by her when she was huddled alone on the streets. Big, fat tears began to stream down her face, and she couldn’t make them stop.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-oh, do you not like it? I can pick a different name!” Iris panicked as Tanya began to sob.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya thought it funny, but she still couldn’t stop crying. Iris had saved her in more than one way. Not only had Iris saved Tanya from danger, she had also given Tanya a reason to live when she had given up on herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was why Tanya never wanted Iris to worry. In fact, she wanted to protect Iris from everything that could possibly concern her. She had prayed that Iris would be able to return home to Armelia soon; she hadn’t seen a genuine smile on Iris’s face since they arrived at the capital. Her mistress only ever looked exhausted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was understandable, given the scandal they had been dealing with upon their arrival. Furthermore, Iris had been consumed by negotiations and damage control in the aftermath. It was no wonder that she had been so tense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So, yes, it was understandable, yet Iris had that gloomy look even in private.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did something happen to Lady Iris?” Dean had asked Tanya before he left with his sister. He showed up so infrequently, yet even he had noticed her mood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All the other maids of the house had seen it as well. They were all too aware, but they couldn’t do a thing to help. That was incredibly frustrating for Tanya, especially as she couldn’t identify what could have upset Iris so terribly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had a hunch, granted. She suspected it was simply being here, in the place where Iris had been humiliated. Worse, upon Iris’s return to the capital, she had been subjected to yet more humiliation. Could anyone really wonder why she was so upset to be here?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For whatever reason, Iris simply couldn’t be herself in this place. It was almost as if she was trying to make herself look bad.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "True, Iris was no longer the ray of sunshine she had been when she was little. She had grown up, of course. Moreover, Tanya was a servant, and she had no need to develop political insight, but even she knew that the old Iris never would have been able to survive the scheming and machinations of high society. Other people would have made her a puppet or taken advantage of her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Therefore, it was necessary for Iris to keep her cool and not let her personal feelings interfere with the difficult decisions before her. But that coolness was even more pronounced in the capital. Her bright, sunny smile had been replaced by a cold, unfeeling one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Again, Tanya felt like Iris was almost trying to make herself look the villain. She had a feeling that Iris was unconsciously aware of it. It seemed to her that the true reason Iris wanted so badly to go home wasn’t the work piling up on her desk in Armelia—she wanted to go home because she couldn’t stand to be herself any longer. It was almost like she was sick of acting the part. All Tanya could do was hope they would be able to return without further incident.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was a knock at the door. Tanya went to open it. She was surprised to see Dida standing there. “What are you doing here so late?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry about that. Were you about to bed down?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Lady Iris fell asleep quickly tonight, and I’ve finished all my work for the day.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Hey, you really shouldn’t answer the door wearing that. You are a woman, after all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? I thought there was no need to worry in the duke’s mansion.” Tanya smiled. “And of course, I know what to do if someone tries anything with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida chuckled wryly, but a serious expression came to his face. “What would you do if he was too strong for you? It would take a lot more than what you’ve got to get through a guy like me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes… Well, speaking in terms of people in this household, it would be difficult for me to overpower you or Lyle. But if there were an intruder, I think they’d be more interested in trying to kill me than anything else. Either way, I trust the both of you to see to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of them stared evenly at each other for a few moments. It was the dead of night, and the house was grave quiet; it made the silence between them all the weightier.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Damn. Guess you got me there,” Dida said with a chuckle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya laughed. “Well? What did you want?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was going to ask Lyle for a drink, but he fell asleep. I was wondering if you’d join me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly, at this time of night? Especially after lecturing me about how I should be more careful as a delicate woman? Don’t come crying to me if someone sees and starts spreading rumors.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t care,” he said with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya couldn’t tell if he was serious, and she sighed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, it is late. Bet you gotta get up early tomorrow, too. Sorry,” he apologized.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait.” Tanya called out to him just as he was about to leave. “I’m wide awake now. Let’s go ahead and have that drink. Can you wait a bit for me to change first?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya went ahead and changed, then left her room to join Dida. It was too late to go out, so instead they used the parlor reserved for the servants. It was a common space used by all the mansion staff, mainly for breaks.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "House Armelia’s mansion in the capital was appropriate for such a prominent family, and thus, it was so large that about half of it was dedicated space for the staff. This went to show just how highly they valued their staff, and it all made life as a servant to House Armelia quite pleasant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’ll you have? I brought this, if you’re interested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t this from Macalama? How did you get it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Swiped it from Master,” Dida said without a trace of remorse.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya sighed. “Honestly. What am I going to do with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who cares? Master feels bad about what happened with me and Lyle. I told him this would make us even, and he laughed.” Dida had a wry smile as he spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What an awfully masculine way to show concern, thought Tanya absently, but she silently accepted the glass Dida handed her. “Are you sure it’s all right for me to share it, then? Seeing as you earned it through your hard work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lyle said he didn’t want any. I wouldn’t say it was hard work, anyway.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya doubted that as she watched Dida pour a second glass. She knew how hard General Gazell worked the two of them every time they met. They had given up their own training time to teach the other recruits as the general’s assistants. Meanwhile, they continued to serve as Iris’s bodyguards, as well as helping to conduct joint training exercises in their free time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya had barely seen either of them lately, which was likely due to the fact that they were so busy. She’d told them they didn’t have to help with House Armelia’s domestic needs in the meantime, but Lyle had refused to listen, and Dida had said breezily, “We’re just hanging out when we’re there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya and Dida raised their filled glasses and clinked them together. “Cheers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They both took a sip, and the sweet, deep flavor of the alcohol spread through their mouths.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mm, booze from the Macalama region is so damn delicious.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t it, though. You really lucked out, getting a hold of this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All the master’s got is the good stuff. For someone who drinks so much, he’s real picky about what he likes. Or maybe that’s why he’s so picky. He drinks like a fish!” Dida laughed as he downed the rest of his glass. Then he murmured, “We can finally go home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. So now you’re done spending your time at the general’s.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah. Gotta start getting ready.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you eager to return as well?” she asked, glancing over at him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean, ‘as well’?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nothing in particular. Well, are you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t really have a place to call home. When it comes down to it, my home, or I guess the place where I belong, is by the princess’s side. So I guess it seems weird to say we’re going ‘home’ anywhere in specific.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True enough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida had also devoted his life to Iris, just like Tanya. Unfortunately, his easygoing attitude often brought his dedication into question.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do wanna go back to the duchy, though. As soon as possible, with our princess. There are too many walls here. I can’t be by her side all the time like I can in Armelia. Too many people in the capital have more power than us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a hard time imagining there are many individuals stronger than you two,” Tanya said in a teasing tone, prompting Dida to laugh. He gave her a look that said, I know, right?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m joking,” Tanya said with a sigh. “It’s true that being here makes one feel powerless. So many people have a greater power than we can ever possess—that of influence. No matter how much we train our bodies and blades, we can never match it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right. And that’s why I wanna go back to Armelia as soon as we can, as the princess’s protectors.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t look too happy. One of the nobles say something mean to you? The head maid work you too hard for once?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would you say that in front of Elulu?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida gave a throaty chuckle. “Hell no.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya sighed again. “No, that’s not what happened. I’ve just been worried.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Only thing you’d be worrying about is the princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya glared at him. “You sound rather confident about that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, pardon me!” Dida laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Only then did Tanya realize how indignant her response had been, and she let out yet another sigh. “You’re right, though. I am worried about her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did something happen?” Dida’s voice was suddenly serious. Iris was as important to him as she was to Tanya, and that reminder filled Tanya with relief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Haven’t you noticed that she’s been looking increasingly depressed the longer we stay here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, yeah,” he agreed with a snort.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She’s always tense, so it’s no wonder she’s grown this upset. It’s just frustrating to see her like that and be unable to do anything to help. It’s like what you said—being faced with something more powerful that we can’t overcome. I feel like I was overconfident in my own abilities.” The more Tanya spoke, the worse that bitter feeling inside became. She had to chuckle at herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, but what about it? Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know that. And that’s why I’m so frustrated!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya was up against a wall she couldn’t even begin to climb, and she was so weak before it. Being aware of her helplessness made it feel even more insurmountable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida shook his head. “You don’t know. Lemme give you an example. My specialty is being the princess’s bodyguard. I physically shield her body because my role is to protect her. That’s my specialty, and I’m better at it than anyone. I won’t let anyone take that away from me. Not even you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya glared at him, still incensed—how dare he say she didn’t understand!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So then what’s your specialty? Your role is to always be by her side and help her with everything she needs, right? I can’t do that. I can’t make tea like you can or help her get dressed. I can’t manage her schedule or help her with her work either.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that might be true, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know how hard you work. You trained with the master to learn martial arts, and Sebastian taught you how to help with Princess’s actual work. I can see that you’re trying to expand your role even further. That’s fine if it helps her. But there’s only so much that one person can do. Everyone has their limits. What’s wrong with focusing on taking care of the things she already needs help with? You can grow stronger in your specialty by seeing to those responsibilities.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida tipped back his head and drained the last of his drink. “Think I’m wrong?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. No, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya felt like she had just been smacked in the head with a blunt object. She hadn’t been overconfident in her abilities at all. She had been too proud—too controlling. She’d thought she had to do everything herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle and Dida improved their skills by training with their swords, Merida practiced her cooking, and Rehme always studied to increase her knowledge. Sei and Moneda likewise always worked hard to finish all the tasks they had been given. All of them had their own roles and worked hard to fulfill them, even going above and beyond in the tasks they had been assigned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You see what I mean?” asked Dida. “Instead of getting frustrated when you run up against something you can’t knock down, figure out what you can do for our princess and help her over there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya drained the last of her drink as well. “You’re right. The best I can do to put her at ease is to stay beside her at every moment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She still had dignity in her role. And just like how Dida said he wouldn’t let anyone else take his position, Tanya wouldn’t give up hers either.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s the look I’m used to,” Dida said with his usual full laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 9",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 13: The Duke's Daughter Returns Home",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 13:The Duke's Daughter Returns Home",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’M FINALLY HOME,” I murmured to myself. A dozen feelings blurred together within my chest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It had been so long. Although this trip had been nothing compared to the usual social season, it had felt like forever—likely because each day had been packed with so many developments. The last time I’d returned to Armelia, I had felt no small amount of relief, but this time, it was even greater.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As soon as we arrived back at the mansion, the staff greeted us warmly. “Welcome home!” They were all smiling happy tears. I even began tearing up a bit myself. It was evident that they had all been truly worried about me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so happy you’re back home safely,” said Sebastian. “Please go ahead and rest up from your travels.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks, Sebastian.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Normally, I would have headed straight for my study, but that day, I went directly to my bedroom. Everyone was right—I needed to rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "First, I relaxed with a cup of tea that Tanya made me. A gentle breeze rustled the curtains. It seemed to beckon me over, so I rose and walked toward the window, from where I looked out over Armelia. My beautiful domain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was lush and green, and I could see the town off in the distance. I loved this view. When I thought of how generations of governors had looked out at this same stretch of land and at the people they protected, I was proud of the blood flowing through my veins. I let out an absent sigh. I was so relieved that I had overcome this crisis and that this land was still my responsibility.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, that’s right—Tanya, could you call Lyle or Dida in here, please?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. Are you going somewhere?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but not off the grounds. Don’t worry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then. Please wait a moment.” Tanya excused herself from the room but returned promptly. “Dida just happened to be outside.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Tanya. Dida, would you accompany me on a walk, please?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. Where would you like to go?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To see my grandfather.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s all? Got it. It’s my job to take you wherever you want, Princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks. Tanya, can you get the flowers ready? Would you please come with us?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. Please wait a moment and I’ll get them ready right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With their company, I made my way to the back end of the estate. It took about ten minutes to walk there through the thick woods. These woods were the final resting place for the governors who had passed on. Not in a cemetery, but here. I didn’t know the reason why. I was, in any case, somewhat envious that they were able to enjoy their eternal slumber on the land belonging to House Armelia, which was filled with so many memories.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My goal was the newest headstone. I took the bouquet from Tanya and set it on the ground. This was where my paternal grandfather had been laid to rest, right before I entered the academy. In contrast with my father’s typically stern expression, my grandfather had always had a very kind and gentle face. Grandmother had also been a warm person, so honestly I had no idea how my father had turned out the way he did. Anyway, I digress.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since becoming the acting governor, I’d found myself thinking about my late grandfather a great deal and coming to this little graveyard often. I believed he loved Armelia more than anyone else I’d ever known. I remembered him gazing fondly out the window at Armelia as I liked to do now, holding me and Berne up to take in the view and proudly telling us about the domain. He was such a gentle person that, for a time, I’d had no idea how he had survived as the prime minister in the capital, working amongst the snakes and foxes. I’d wondered that often, in the beginning.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was different now; every time I came across a lasting effect my grandfather had made on Tasmeria’s government, I came away impressed. I had to laugh at myself at the same time. I had been so foolish to think that I could take someone at face value and know immediately what kind of person they were. It seemed so obvious now, when I thought about it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The grandfather I had known as a girl and the person he had been at work were two different people. On top of that, I had only known him when I was very young. He had been able to be precisely the person he wanted to be in front of me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To the point, the only reason I was able to reform Armelia as completely as I was right now was because of the foundations my grandfather had laid. He had spent an enormous amount of time building Armelia’s infrastructure. As such, I saw his legacy everywhere. The evidence was clear; he had left an astonishing trove of plans in case of future disasters—plans that stretched on into decades of work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to admit that, while I had been so focused on progress and development, I’d forgotten many of the basics. It was incredibly impressive that Grandfather had accomplished everything he had while still serving as the prime minister. He had truly loved this land.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m home,” I said softly as I joined my hands in prayer. I silently apologized for bringing turmoil to Armelia, and I apologized further for bringing trouble to the family. Then I asked him to please watch over and protect me. Even though I knew he couldn’t answer, I talked to him for a long time in this unspoken way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.” I stood and turned. Tanya and Dida were waiting for me with smiles on their faces. “Let’s go back home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I began walking toward the house, my mind and heart feeling clearer and more at ease.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d like more detailed information on what’s in this report. Call in the person who prepared it.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Next, I indicated a towering stack of documents.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m done checking these. Go ahead and deliver them where they belong.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now I had to deal with the smaller mountain beside it. I almost felt like crying when I thought that this was the “only” thing I had left to do.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“These budgets need to be redone. Too many wasteful expenses. If that amount of money is truly necessary, I’ll have to see more proof and a thorough explanation for the need.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I looked toward the neighboring stack. The same went for those papers. I was sure the departments who had sent them would be less than thrilled to redo them, but the finance division shared my opinion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The bridge mentioned in this document is definitely deteriorating. Go ahead and start the necessary repairs right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On the following day, I’d been cooped up in my study since morning. I was still surrounded by mountains of documents, but I was very slowly making my way through them. I wished I had more than one Iris to go around, but I silently chided myself for the thought—I needed to focus on work instead of entertaining frivolous wishes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Each time I made a dent in the papers, Sebastian came in with another armload, so I truly wasn’t making any progress. Granted, if all the documents I had to check had been in the study all at once, I think it would have been too daunting to even contemplate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Nevertheless, I felt my enthusiasm and motivation slowly chipping away. I knew I should have been grateful to Sebastian for bringing the documents in batches. He had a guilty look each time he came in, but it was no wonder so much work had piled up since I had been gone for so long.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On top of that, various projects we’d been in the middle of had suffered delays due to the church scandal and the time I’d spent in the capital. Many people in the government hadn’t come to work while I’d been away, and they hadn’t returned yet either. To put it simply, we were short-staffed, and it was becoming a serious problem. If it persisted any longer, the other Armelian officials would soon be under enormous pressure. More than anything, I didn’t want to lose anyone to overwork, least of all those on the front lines who had remained loyal to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We should be getting tax reports from all the regions soon, correct? We have to finish as many items on the agenda as we can before then…” I murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As soon as Sebastian heard that, the expression on his face changed drastically—in a bad way, surprise, surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yes, yes, I know. I knew that adding more work to the mountains everyone was already buried under would be a tipping point. But the tax reports were vitally important. They would tell us every region’s income and revenue, and we would use those numbers to predict the state of the duchy’s economy going forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If we were fortunate enough to see substantial income growth, then we could run some expenditure estimates as well. On an individual level, high income tended to reflect in higher expenditures. Meanwhile, for businesses, it meant more capital to develop future endeavors. Having all this information in hand was crucial to predicting and manipulating the future of Armelia. Things were still rough out there, and I wanted to hurry up and get a move on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The sound of a quill scratching on paper filled the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, please take a break,” Tanya urged hesitantly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, I must’ve lost track of time, I thought as I glanced out the window. The sun was already setting. “Tanya? I’ve a favor to ask of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Could you make a list of all the officials who haven’t reported to work since I was excommunicated? I want to see what they’ve been doing—and who’s in their social circles.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then I’ll take your advice and have a break. Go ahead and tell Sebastian to come here in a bit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya bowed her head and excused herself from the room. I took a sip of tea, savoring the sweetness of it as I relaxed. While I drank, I read through a letter I’d received from the marchioness of House Anderson. In other words, my uncle’s wife.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "House Armelia and House Anderson had been close for a long time, due to the intimate relationship between our grandfathers. They treated me extremely well and had been dearly concerned about me both after my expulsion and during my run-in with the Darryl Church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "House Anderson’s domain bordered Armelia to the west, but because a range of treacherously steep mountains separated us, travelers either had to navigate around the entire range or reach them by sea. Honestly, we were both so busy that we simply couldn’t visit each other often. Instead, we kept up with a steady stream of letters going both ways.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I was done reading the letter, I decided I should probably get back to work. That was when Sebastian entered the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had a feeling you would resume your work, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perfect timing, Sebastian. There’s something I want to ask you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure you’ve already begun recruiting temporary workers for the merchant guild, haven’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This initiative had been inspired by Dean, more or less. He had gotten his start there. The jobs weren’t high responsibility or high status, but they involved tasks such as assisting with calculations and sorting through documents. We needed more staff members in order to process these tasks more quickly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And how is that going?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not well, my lady. We’re in the midst of the busy season right now, so we’ve had numerous applicants. However, some other establishments offer higher salaries, and it isn’t as if we’ll accept just anyone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had a feeling.” I sighed. “I have a suggestion, Sebastian.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why not open up applications to the academy students attending the government track program?” I asked, and Sebastian’s eyes widened at the proposal. “The job’s responsibilities are all routine tasks. They can continue studying while they work. We’ll be grateful for the extra help, and they can get experience in the field.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm, that’s ingenious. I’ll contact the academy right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Here, take this.” I handed him a letter for the school. I figured I might as well use my status for all that it was worth—although I was sure that Headmaster Luka would think it an intriguing proposal and agree. “If the school says yes, may I entrust the negotiations to you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. I’ll leave you in charge of this matter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I kept scratching my quill across the paper in the flickering lamplight. It felt like that was the only sound I’d been hearing lately.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mmm…” Once I finished writing, I set down my quill and stretched my arms up. The dreadfully unladylike sound of my stiff bones cracking and popping filled the room. Finally, I relaxed. I sank back into my chair, my arms falling limply over the armrests. It was terrible posture, of course, but I was alone, so it was permissible.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Slumped in my chair, I stared absently at the contents of the document I’d just written. Yes, that would do for the day. I realized with a wry chuckle that I hadn’t set foot out of my study since I woke. I probably wouldn’t even have stopped to eat had Tanya not told me to. I couldn’t shake the tendency to become so absorbed in my work that I lost track of everything else around me. I had been like that in my previous life, but I’d been that way as Iris even before I regained the memories of that life. The habit was ingrained in my soul.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me.” There was a knock at the door and Tanya entered. “I saw the lights still on, so I thought maybe… And here you are, still working.” She sighed, exasperated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I laughed. She’d been different since we got home, but in a good way. Her rough edges had once again softened, and she wasn’t as tense as she had been in the capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forgive me for meddling, but please go to bed,” she urged. “I know I don’t completely understand everything that you do, my lady, but if you collapse from overwork again, it will delay your plans even more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although, her concerns for me hadn’t changed at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I laughed tiredly. “Yes, you’re right. I was just thinking of calling it a night.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m quite relieved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But first I’d like to hear your report. I was waiting here for you, thinking you’d be finished at any moment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry to have kept you waiting, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wanted to wait up for you. Your report, please.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She handed me a stack of documents, and as I read through them, she offered additional opinions that hadn’t been recorded in writing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.” Once I was done reading the report, I held the papers over the lamp and burned them. It would have been much more convenient if I had a fireplace, but since Armelia’s climate was virtually perpetual springtime, we didn’t have any.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At any rate, the documents were so sensitive that there was no way I could ever let anyone else lay eyes on them—especially not here, where I worked. I set the burning papers in a metal dish and waited until they were charred beyond recognition, and then I doused the flame with sand from a large bottle I kept on my desk for blotting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So they have been compromised…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya’s report had revealed the names of those working in the Armelian government whose loyalties leaned more toward other domains over our own.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a shame, but humans are fickle by nature, especially when they feel like things are unstable,” said Tanya. “No matter how honest and upright your organization, there will always be those whose loyalty wavers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Tanya… Humans are fickle indeed. I know that all too well. But that’s not the only issue, right? You can say it. It’s easy for them to disrespect me because I’m a young woman.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s all right. It’s true. I want you to gather all the people you noted in that report. Where shall we do it…? Oh, I know! How about the new church?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, my lady. But…all of them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Honestly, now that I’ve read your report, I’ve made up my mind about what to do with them. I’d like to meet them face-to-face first, though. All of them. Although I doubt they’ll show.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and Tanya? You did an incredible job, nailing down all those specific details. I think you’re getting better and better at this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do it all for you, my lady. And anyway, information is just information. It only becomes important after I bring it to you and you decide what is to be done with it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She had a point; information in and of itself was nigh meaningless. One wrong step and it ended up baseless rumor, nothing more than a delusion. In this day and age, when you never knew what was true—or what could become untrue if the wrong person heard you knew—it was hard to trust anything.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya… What am I to you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You are my stability, my lady. My pillar of support.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. I know that you won’t waver. I feel that deep inside of me, and that’s why you serve as my eyes and ears. That’s also why I’m able to trust the information you bring me and use it without hesitation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m incredibly honored to hear that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I think it’s time for bed. Will you straighten up in here for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, my lady.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The new church was absolutely splendid. It was lavishly outfitted, expressing the power and influence of Armelia—or perhaps that was going too far, the man thought with a chuckle. This was his first visit. As to why he hadn’t come before, well, that had everything to do with the reason for the church’s construction. He, along with a few other like-minded individuals, had abandoned their jobs and voluntarily stayed at home in protest of Iris’s decision to demolish the old church. Their opinion on the matter could best be described as righteous indignation.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They’d done so because they had truly believed they were in the right; after all, Iris had ordered the destruction of a church, which was the backbone of righteousness. Even after they heard this new church was being constructed, none of them had visited it because of their convictions—not even after Iris had been found innocent at the inquiry. In fact, their resistance grew after learning of her so-called innocence. It didn’t matter to them. Nor did it change the contempt they had felt for her once she was named acting governor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They hadn’t been directly involved with the group who sullied her name following the old church’s demolition, but they still disapproved of her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man knew that it was in poor taste to have abandoned the governor; as her employee, he should have remained by her side. He thought perhaps it might have been better to speak out against her publicly during her excommunication instead of just confining himself to his house. Even if doing so would have angered her, he should have spoken to her instead of deciding words wouldn’t get through and that therefore there was no point.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, it was too late now. That was why he had continued to stay at home. He was thinking it was time to tender his resignation, but at the same time, he wondered if it was even necessary at this point. That was when the invitation arrived—an invitation from the party in question, Iris Lana Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Although, it wasn’t an invitation so much as it was a summons to appear, or so he had thought when he first read it. It made no mention of his recent behavior, but he was sure that was why she had asked to see him. He did have to wonder why their meeting was being held at the new church.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You need to settle things.” That was what he’d told himself before coming here today.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One by one, other people like him, those who had abandoned their posts, began to trickle into the church. The mood was heavy, and none of them spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for being here today.” Suddenly, Iris entered as well, breaking the silence. She wore a serene smile as she looked around the room. “I see some people chose not to come, but I expected that. It’s time to begin, so I’ll go ahead and say what I’ve come to say.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her voice echoed off the walls and ceilings of the chapel, reverberating inside the man’s body.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Every single one of you here neglected your duties as government officials of Armelia at the time of my excommunication. I called you here today to speak with you. But first, do any of you have anything to say to me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No one spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. I shall begin. What is a government official?” Iris’s expression hadn’t changed. She was still smiling. But that just made the pressure grow. “You, over there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She seemed irritated that no one was speaking and called on one of them directly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A government official serves as an aide for the governor, performing any duties they are assigned in order to make the domain run smoothly.” The man delivered a general response with a smug smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris frowned and turned to the person standing next to him. “Mm-hmm. And what about you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The woman was startled for a moment, having been put on the spot, and she stammered. “I-I agree with him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So then, going by your definition, during my excommunication, none of you were actually serving as government officials, no?” Iris asked with a chuckle, hiding her mouth with a folding fan. “Think about it. You defied me, your leader, and abandoned your duties without permission. If your job is solely to follow the governor’s instructions, and you did the opposite of that, then you’re clearly no longer needed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She watched as the blood drained from their faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me rephrase the question. Why did you abandon your duties during my excommunication and stay at home? I want your answer.” Iris gestured toward the man, who had been watching this whole time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He knew he couldn’t avert his gaze, but the intensity of her attention made him desperately want to. “Forgive me for being presumptuous, but I would like to ask you the same question. What does a governor do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He knew he should give a bland and inoffensive answer, but instead, that impertinence tumbled out of his mouth. His boldness surprised even himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t like it when people answer a question with a question,” said Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nevertheless, we need that answer from you,” the man insisted. Perhaps he no longer cared what happened. It wasn’t as if he had pride to protect, or anything else at all. He had lost all that the moment he abandoned his post, as Iris said. All he had now was a desperate sense of resignation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The job of a governor is one to take pride in. They protect the citizens, care for them, and enrich their lives. They must feel a deep sense of belonging with their domain in order to oversee the people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Precisely. And that’s why I abandoned my duties.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris frowned, displeased. “You’ll have to elaborate.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me. I also believe that it’s the job of the governor to protect and guide their citizens. That’s why I abandoned my duties as an Armelian official following your excommunication. How can one guide citizens if they are accused of a crime by the church, which serves as the very foundation of our beliefs? Reformation is all well and good, but this incident caused the citizens to lose trust in those reforms as led by this governor—you. How can a governor inspire their citizens to dream if they are the one destroying dreams? That was what I thought, and that was the reason why I resisted you—why I abstained from work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re awfully good at talking, aren’t you?” Iris’s words lit an indignant fire inside of him. Before he could object, she continued. “Are you sure it wasn’t because you felt threatened having a young girl such as myself stand above you, giving you orders?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her response extinguished his anger. She had identified feelings within himself that he hadn’t noticed—no, that he had purposefully avoided so as not to notice them. He couldn’t deny her suggestion. He had opposed her appointment as acting governor from the very beginning.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Why, he had thought, would someone who had been scorned by the royal family and refused to learn from it be chosen as the acting governor?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At first, he’d thought it was just a whim on the part of the true governor, that Iris would just hold the title in name only. Then she started poking her nose into all governmental affairs. In the beginning, it only annoyed him, but once her plans in the duchy took off and he learned she had the backing of the queen dowager…he began to resent her very presence. Yet he suppressed those feelings. It wasn’t until the excommunication that those feelings resurfaced and urged him to protest her by ignoring his job. However…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t deny that I had those feelings. But the things I just said are also my true feelings.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well? What do you feel a government official’s job is?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To protect the livelihood of the citizens and aid the governor in any way in order to enrich their lives.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her reaction startled him slightly. He hesitantly lifted his gaze to look at her face. It was completely blank. Expressionless. Then in the next moment, a smile larger than she’d yet given spread across her face. Under normal circumstances, one might think such a smile on such fine features was beautiful. Instead, it was so incredibly fierce that he became intimidated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see, I see. In that case, there’s no need for you to look as if you’re awaiting execution, then!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man hadn’t realized he had such an expression until she said it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A government official is an aide. An aide to the leader. And an aide must never disobey their leader. More than that, thinking so little of the citizens is, in short, a crime. There’s no need to feel ashamed if you took pride in defying me. But the scandal is over, so continuing to neglect your duties is delaying government progress, which in turn hurts the citizens. If a government official is supposed to serve the citizens, then you have failed, and you are guilty of a crime.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But you were falsely charged, and—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please. Don’t pretend as if I have your sympathies, or as if you have any regrets for defying me. At this point, it would be nothing more than a nuisance. I’ve never once thought any of you were truly on my side, even from the beginning.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…!” The man was deeply shocked to hear this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not asking for personal loyalty, nor a sense of obligation, not from any of you. All I want is for you to do your jobs.” Iris’s voice had taken on a quiet, lilting tone, but as she spoke, her words became stronger and stronger, like they were taking on a pulse of their own. “Do your jobs for the sake of the citizens. If you so strongly disapprove of me, then unite the public and overthrow me. You are no longer in a protected position. Your role is to protect. And you should take pride in that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man’s heart felt hot, but it was a different fire burning inside him now. Was it excitement? Passion? He thought he could see the same heat rising from Iris—as if she were showing him a dream. How could such a small, delicate girl carry such an intense, searing flame within?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Again, I won’t ask for loyalty. But I will overlook this incident. Now hurry up and get back to work, all of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re forgiving us?” someone asked. The man looked over at them—didn’t they understand that such a question was beside the point?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not a matter of forgiveness, because I don’t seek your favor. Therefore, your question is nothing. It doesn’t matter if you acted out of loathing for me or whether you bent to the will of others—as long as you didn’t betray Armelia or its citizens. I don’t believe you did, so I am inviting you to return. Because if you don’t…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we don’t?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris’s smile grew deeper. “There’s no need for you to know. Or are you planning not to come back?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No one answered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s what I thought. Hurry up and get back to work. We don’t have much time.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stared absently at the vacant church once the crowd had gone.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You were terribly stern,” Tanya said. “It wasn’t like you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled at her. “What would be like me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya didn’t answer right away. “My lady, forgive me for saying so, but I thought you were acting differently when we were in the capital. I felt like you were purposefully trying to make yourself out to be the villain.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I blinked at her in surprise. “Perhaps the scheming in the capital did change me. Or maybe it started when Dida asked me if I was prepared…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His question had stripped away any naiveté I had left. I had been focused entirely on the future, chasing my ideals as I moved toward it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since regaining my past life’s memories, I’d been guided by them—by all that time I’d spent as an ordinary office worker in a peaceful world. I had no intention of denying that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the same time, I’d felt like I was in a dream. Being faced with the surreal circumstances of my reincarnation had cloaked me in a strange reverie. I’d tried my best to ignore it, but Dida’s question had shredded through the veil. It had forced me to see that I lived a real life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As the acting governor of Armelia, I was responsible for the lives of its citizens in both the best and worst senses of the word. The moment I truly grasped that, I said farewell to the innocence of childhood, which had been filled with nothing but pure and beautiful things. Simultaneously, my past self said goodbye to her memories of a peaceful life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could no longer afford any weaknesses; my enemies would take any openings to eat me alive. Never again would I stand for being subjected to an incident like the excommunication or otherwise being falsely accused of a crime I had not committed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t worry,” I said. “I know that if I make a mistake and step down the wrong path, the people I trust will stop me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Like Dida did?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, exactly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My people acted to carry out my orders, but when they thought I was truly wrong, they told me so. I knew I could trust them to speak up. For now, anyway. I could trust Sebastian, Dida, Lyle, Rehme, Sei, Merida, and Dean. Every one of them would pull me back if I ever strayed from the right path.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although I did suspect that Tanya would give in to anything I said. But that was fine.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I ask you something else, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded my approval.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why did you arrange this meeting in the church, of all places?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, that?” I laughed. “Because I thought it rather fitting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya gave me a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This church symbolizes the entire scandal,” I said. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it also represents the future of the Darryl Church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Father Rafsimons had said as much himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafiel was giving free medical treatment to poor citizens at this very church. It also served as a home for Armelia’s orphans. More and more volunteers from our capital were coming to help these endeavors. When he’d heard of it, Father Rafsimons had said this church was the very embodiment of Darryl’s core values.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t intend to hound the church, not aggressively. It wouldn’t be worth it.” I turned my gaze toward the altar. It felt like ages since I had stood there giving a speech after my excommunication. “I don’t know if God truly exists. I do believe. But that’s who I believe in—God, not the Darryl Church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, that’s…” Tanya’s face turned pale. I had, to be fair, said something rather heretical.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya, have you forgotten what the church did? They were supposed to act as the agents of God, but instead, they falsely accused me, put me on trial, and interfered with the royal power struggle.” I could hear the venom in my tone, even sharper than it had been in my head. “These so-called servants of God let their own personal greed and ambition usurp everything the church stood for. I suppose that sort of corruption is only natural for humans. And that is exactly why I won’t place my trust in the church. I can’t.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this moment, I couldn’t even bear to pray to God—not so long as there were people hiding behind Her name to further their selfishness.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Remember what I said before? This is an expression of what I’m prepared to do. I have no intention of disavowing everything the church stands for. I know that we need faith to bring the citizens together. But this incident proved that the Darryl Church isn’t, at its heart, a benevolent organization. They are a self-serving political body set on manipulating the throne. You must not believe their claim to stand for the people. And I will fight anything that fails to stand for the people. Thus, I will not pander to the Darryl Church, nor will I do as they say. I will treat them as if they are my opponent on the playing field. That is my decision. I hope they pay me the same respect. Regardless, I will protect the people not by relying on God or pandering to Her supposed servants, but by fighting for them with my own two hands.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned my gaze from Tanya back to the altar.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t regret tearing down that old church, or the protest it inspired, or being decried for my actions. But I do regret something—my failure to predict that demolishing that structure would bring about such a catastrophe.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya said, “I think it would have been difficult to predict such a thing. Didn’t your father tell you as much himself?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” I laughed softly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, the door opened, and some of the children who lived at the church tumbled in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh! It’s Alice!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, you’re right! What are you doing here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come see Miss Mina with us!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Their cheerful voices echoed throughout the church. The children clamored as they dashed over and surrounded me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knelt down to be eye level with them. “Okay. But she might be surprised if I show up so suddenly, so why don’t you go tell her that I’m here first?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Will you really come, though?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. I promise,” I assured them with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The children seemed satisfied with this, and they ran back off toward the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I watched them go, I said, “I have no real regrets, Tanya—because I helped protect their future.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You know what I was thinking? They’re little Tanyas.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She gave me a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They remind me of you when you were small. Your circumstances were far more terrible, granted. Even so, you were the only one I was permitted to take in at the time. Ever since, I’ve done my job because I want, more than anything, to protect children like you. So I couldn’t possibly regret a thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They seem so happy. They’re very fortunate.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you not happy, too, Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course I am. That’s why I know they will be as well. Because they’re little ‘me’s, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I laughed out loud. I’d never thought I’d hear such words coming out of her mouth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure they’re very impatient to see you, my lady. Shall we go?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, let’s,” I agreed, and we both headed toward the door.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Miss Mina!”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Four children scrambled into the kitchen where Mina was preparing dinner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, now! It’s dangerous in here,” she scolded them. “You’re supposed to ask me before you come inside, remember?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re sorry…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The four of them hung their heads, which drew a wry smile from Mina. She put down her knife and crouched to look them directly in the eyes. “Well? What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Alice is here!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my!” Mina exclaimed with surprise; she was so startled that the children seemed bewildered by her reaction. “I can’t believe the gove—I mean, Lady Alice is here! What to do?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Children, I thought I told you not to go into the chapel.” Father Rafiel had been taking a break and walked into the kitchen, having heard the commotion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Father Rafiel,” Mina gasped. “Lady Ir—I mean, Lady Alice is here!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m aware. She asked to use the chapel for a meeting. Did she not mention it to you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No!” Mina glared at Father Rafiel, who wore his usual serene smile. “I-I must prepare some tea right away! Ah, but first I should go greet her, and—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Calm down, Mina.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse us.” Tanya called out at the same time. Therefore, Mina didn’t hear what Father Rafiel said—she had bolted toward the front door in a panic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Father Rafiel chuckled and followed after her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-welcome, Lady Ir—ah! Lady Alice! And Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though there wasn’t a profound distance from the kitchen to the front door, Mina had sprinted at full speed. She was panting, both because she was out of breath and because she was so nervous. But when she saw Iris, she had to do a double take.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to be so formal, Mina. And thank you so much for answering my sudden request to use the space for today, Father Rafiel.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris greeted them both, pulling Mina back to herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. I’m glad I could be of some help,” Father Rafiel said with a smile. “By the way, Lady Alice, forgive me for being so frank, but are you feeling quite well?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina nodded in agreement from his side. This was the reason she had been so startled when she laid eyes on Iris. The governor looked much thinner than Mina remembered—and she was so pale that her skin was nearly translucent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris smiled awkwardly as they gave her concerned looks. “I’ve been extremely busy with work. But thanks to you, I’ve finally caught up with a rather important matter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that! Was there something in particular you needed from us?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I just wanted to say hello. And to come see my friends, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your friends…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes! Right, everyone?” Iris smiled and glanced behind Mina and Father Rafiel. She met eyes with the grinning children who had just appeared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Alice is here! Why’d you come today?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Guess what, Alice? I can read now!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Will you play with me today, Alice? You promised last time!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mina was powerless to stop the children, who eagerly crowded around Iris. Fortunately, Iris wasn’t at all bothered by the attention; in fact, she smiled at them happily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right, I did promise!” she laughed. “Father Rafiel, Mina, I’m so sorry for coming over unannounced. Do you mind if I play with the children?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my, not at all! As long as they’re not troubling you!” Mina said. “Please come in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.” Iris smiled down at the children. “Why don’t we do something new today and read to each other?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was a chorus of cheers as the children tugged on her hands and pulled her inside. Mina now knew Iris’s true identity, which made the scene beyond anxiety-inducing for her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile, Father Rafiel continued to smile warmly. “Mina, I know you respect her, but please try not to be so obvious in front of the children. They’re terribly clever, you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes…” Mina’s response was so half-hearted that the unspoken That’s impossible… was nearly audible. Father Rafiel had to chuckle as they rejoined the group.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By the time they were back inside, the children had already started playing with Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are they doing?” Father Rafiel asked Tanya with interest as he watched.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Apparently, the game is called Constables and Robbers.” Tanya proceeded to explain the rules to the priest, who listened with genuine curiosity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That sounds interesting indeed. I’ve never heard of it before. Did she come up with the game?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Neither of them looked at each other as they spoke. They were both too absorbed in fondly watching Iris and the children. For her part, Mina seemed lost in thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why is Lady Iris so…” she murmured quietly to herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya tensed at hearing her mistress’s name. “What about Lady Iris?” she asked sternly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me. I was just wondering how Lady Iris could be so very kind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya’s eyes widened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina laughed briefly at this, but then a sad expression came over her face. “We got her involved in so much trouble, but she hasn’t blamed us, not once. And here she is, coming over to visit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mina…” Father Rafiel looked at her with concern.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I think of how much Lady Alice endured during her excommunication—oh, we’re to blame for it! We…no, I—I should have been more aware of what was going on. Then she never would have had to suffer so. But we let her get involved and placed such a heavy burden on her. Yet she still treats us just as she ever did. We’ve nothing to offer, and she protects us. It’s just so sad to me. I’m frustrated.” By the end, Mina’s voice was trembling.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mina, it isn’t your fault,” said Father Rafiel. “If I hadn’t been so stubborn—if I’d come back to everyone sooner, perhaps I could have changed something.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Father Rafiel’s words didn’t seem to help, because Mina only looked more depressed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya, however, did not indulge the mood. “That’s just how Lady Alice is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t have to either. They could see by the look on her face just how proud she was of her mistress.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That was so fun! Would you mind if I take a little break?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris’s voice interrupted their discussion, and no sooner were the words out of her mouth than Tanya rushed to her mistress’s side. She pulled out a handkerchief and began to dab the sweat off of Iris’s forehead and neck.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Alice…” Mina murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Mina? Oh, you look so stressed. Is something the matter?” Iris’s gaze flicked over to Father Rafiel questioningly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An apologetic look came over his face, and he shook his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina piped up as well, shaking her head. “N-no, of course not! Everything here is so wonderful!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m glad to hear that,” said Iris. “But please don’t hesitate to let me know if you ever need anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, Mina thought, How can she be so genuinely kind?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She felt like she might burst into tears. What was she feeling? Sadness? Pity? No, it wasn’t exactly either of those things. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but that unnamed emotion rose up from deep within her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for being so considerate,” Mina said sincerely. “Although, um, Lady Alice? May I ask you something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you ever go out on the town?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you ask?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve been a bit worried. No one’s seen you lately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris smiled sheepishly. “I can’t show my face in public like I used to. It’s far more difficult to walk through town from a security standpoint as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina’s shoulders slumped. As they did, Iris’s expression grew even more sheepish.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s the official answer, of course,” Iris said. “But there’s no problematic reason, I promise. To be honest with you…I think I may just be scared, that’s all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Scared?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Of how the people in town will react to me. It’s only natural that they’ll treat me differently now that they know my true identity. I understand that. But I caused a lot of trouble for everyone with this excommunication business. I’m relieved there were no riots, but I’m sure if I were to show my face, the people would have a great deal to say to me. To be honest, I’m so frightened of what they might say that I simply can’t go out like I used to.” Iris laughed as if it were all a joke. “A pathetic excuse for a governor, am I not? Please forget I said anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina didn’t laugh in kind. In fact, the light had disappeared from her eyes. At the same time, she had an epiphany. She now understood what feeling was welling within her—despair. Grief at her lack of power. It weighed so heavily on her that it was physically painful. The urge to do something for Iris burned in her chest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Alice…forgive me for my impudence, but…” Mina’s voice trembled. It was all she could do not to scream. “Please don’t take me—or any of us—for fools!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the end, her emotions were so uncontrollable that they broke the dam. Despite all her good sense, her feelings spilled out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a split second, Father Rafiel’s face was pure shock, but he said nothing. It seemed he had decided to let Mina say her piece.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know that from your standpoint, we seem weak,” said Mina. “We live in small, closed worlds, and we can’t possibly know everything our leaders are up to. It’s all we can do to keep up with our own little lives.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The people went to work every day, came home, and ate. Then they fell asleep, woke, and started the process all over again, praying that the new day would be as peaceful as the previous.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They prayed because they understood they had to be grateful for that peace. They knew themselves blessed if they didn’t have to worry about where their next meal was coming from, and if they had a job from which they received worthy pay. The average citizen didn’t understand the minutiae of how governmental policies actually shaped their daily lives. They either thought it above their heads or gave up trying to understand because they thought something like: Even if I understood, it’s not like I could change anything, so what’s the point?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To them, the royal family and the nobility lived in an entirely different world. The only time these high-born individuals entered into their thoughts was when they heard particularly interesting rumors and the like. In short, that was usually a sign that the government was moving in a bad direction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When jobs were scarce, no one had money, and the price of food at the market went up, the air in town became heavy, and the people grew dour and gloomy. Mina knew this all too well; she had lived in another domain before she was taken in by the nun who’d run the old orphanage. She remembered that, at such times, the people spoke out against those above them. That angered the authorities and drove them to further oppress the citizens, which in turn made the people even more rebellious. Such circumstances made the air grow even heavier.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be sure, Iris’s excommunication had caused a stir—and yes, some people here and there still criticized her. But…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even so, we’re not fools,” Mina declared. “We understand how much you’ve done for Armelia!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So many people had come out in support of Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Life is so much easier than it was before!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Our new governor really cares about us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There must be some kind of mistake!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mina didn’t know all of what Iris had or hadn’t done, but everything she’d done in the duchy had made life easier for its people and brought smiles back to their faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were more doctors to treat the sick, and with the increase in literacy, the people were better protected from traveling merchants looking to swindle them. Farmers who lived in the regions with poor soil had been given access to education and new means to make a living. The children of Armelia smiled because they could dream of their futures.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Every day, so many people spoke of Iris. They weren’t spreading gossip to entertain themselves—they shared exciting rumors they’d heard of her work and deeds, and they did so with smiles on their faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We are weak,” Mina acknowledged. “But I won’t stand for anyone using our weakness to blame you for anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mina knew what it meant to be a woman, just as Iris did. Mina was slightly older, but they were of the same generation. Being a woman meant people thinking certain things about you. It didn’t matter that Mina and Iris were on completely different ends of the power spectrum—Iris had influence, strength, wealth, none of which Mina possessed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But Iris was human, just like anyone else. Mina understood that well, what with all the time she’d spent with her. Iris wasn’t some intangible idea. She was a real, live, breathing person—one who stood before Mina at this very moment, so overworked that she was wasting away before her eyes. Mina couldn’t let her get away with this any longer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If she did, it would just give those who already hated working women even more ammunition.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, Lady Alice. Please don’t blame yourself anymore. I can’t forgive anyone who criticizes you, even if that person is you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris’s eyes widened, and then tears began to stream down her face. Her reaction shocked Mina.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah! You made Alice cry, Miss Mina!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not nice!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The children chided Mina as Iris sniffled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris shook her head, wiping the tears away. “No, children, it’s fine. I’m actually very happy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You cry when you’re happy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. Tears can come out of your eyes when you’re happy, too. And Miss Mina said something so sweet that all these happy tears are coming out of my eyes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The children breathed a sigh of relief, as did Mina.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Alice, Mina, perhaps you’d each like a cool cloth for your faces?” Tanya asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina nodded through her own tears. “Ah, yes. Tanya, in here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And she led the way into the kitchen.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Tanya retrieved dampened handkerchiefs for both women, Father Rafiel and Iris sat across from each other.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mina had taken the children to put them down for their naps. Although they usually brimmed with energy, many were already worn out from their busy day of running around with Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so sorry about today, what with the children demanding your attention, and then the thing with Mina…” Father Rafiel trailed off.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not all. I love playing with the children. You needn’t apologize. As for Mina’s words…I’m sorry you had to see me in such a state. I really did appreciate what she said. I suppose I’ll have to figure out a new disguise so I can go back to town incognito.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafiel looked troubled. “You truly are so kind to others and so hard on yourself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You think so? You know what happened in the chapel earlier, don’t you?” Iris asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafiel smiled tightly, but he didn’t chide her. Rather, he looked as though he had expected this. “Being kind to people is different from indulging them when they’ve done something wrong.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris laughed. “I suppose you’re right. Now what’s our friend up to these days?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Serving with his peers. I think his time at the academy left him rather naive to a number of things,” Father Rafiel said with a new sort of smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris smiled back at him. “I’m relieved to have you watching over him. And I’m sorry for asking you to do this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. I owe you an incredible debt, after all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… Tangentially, I heard you’ve seen Noryu?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafiel gave her a look of surprise. “You’re well informed, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Noryu was a priest who had carried out the orders of the former pope during Iris’s excommunication. He was currently awaiting trial for his involvement, and he had been jailed in the capital until a verdict could be reached.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He told me it was all your fault,” Father Rafiel said with a laugh. “However, I had removed myself from the power struggle in the capital of my own volition. It would have always been difficult to get the promotion he wanted while working under me. I suspect his resentment boiled up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It feels strange to hear about clergymen yearning for promotions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose it does.” Father Rafiel laughed again. “Humans are difficult creatures. They all have different ways of thinking. You could gather ten people in a room, ask for their opinion on any given thing, and they’d all have something different to say. Even if they all believe in God, they all have their own interpretation of the same divine doctrines. I encourage you to ask a group yourself sometime. It’s quite fascinating.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll keep that in mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To the point… Those different opinions can come from different values. Noryu and I certainly differed in our values, but as we never discussed the difference in our opinions, we had no opportunity to express that difference. Consequently, his emotions became pent up, and the explosion was inevitable. This was a mistake on my part, one that ended up causing you no end of trouble. I’m terribly sorry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, don’t be. Noryu is ultimately responsible for his own actions. But hearing your take is truly helpful. You’re right; as the one responsible for this domain, I need to consider listening to my people far more than I have.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think you already listen to them. Then again, our positions have always been quite different. I suppose I didn’t expect that my words would actually be of service…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But you see, my position is the reason I should take my people’s voices seriously. If I don’t hear their opinions, I’ll end up forcing my own onto them. Even if I’m just trying to help, if I don’t really listen, their resentments will build up as well. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Father Rafiel looked thoughtful. “It’s funny…you act nothing like the rest of the nobility, yet you’re more noble than any I’ve ever met.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris laughed. “I’m a contradiction, then? How would you describe me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve gone so long watching aristocrats serve themselves first and none after. You’re not like that. You truly love your people, and they truly love you in turn. Which is to say: It’s important to listen to people, but I’m sure that if you tell them how you feel, they’ll trust you. And they’ll follow you, no matter what.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How I feel…” A thoughtful look came over Iris’s face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me for speaking out of turn.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not at all. It brings me satisfaction to hear you speak honestly. Although I really should be going now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. Please come back again soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Father Rafiel showed Iris to the front door, and Mina joined them along the way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Iris departed, Mina spoke in a quiet voice. “She’s an aristocrat, isn’t she? The sort of person a regular citizen like me dares not speak to… The daughter of a duke. Completely out of my reach, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It sounded more like she was asking herself rather than Father Rafiel.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So why is she so kind to us? Why is she always so concerned?” Once again, tears sprang to Mina’s eyes. “The old lady who owns the florist shop, the old man who runs the restaurant on the corner—all the people I see in town—they’re always talking about Lady Iris. Everyone here is unbearably fond of ‘Alice.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So when she told us why she no longer comes to town—I cursed my own helplessness. I wondered what I could do, but I realized there was nothing.” Mina clenched her fists. “But no matter how much I hate my helplessness, I can’t hide behind it. I think everyone who knows Lady Iris feels the same way—not even just them. The people who knew what was happening to the orphans and regret not helping them, they probably feel it, too. There are so many people she’s helped who we don’t even know. So many lives she’s touched both as Lady Iris and Lady Alice.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure she’ll start coming around again. She said she was going to get a new disguise.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mina burst into tears. “I’m glad to hear that.” But through the tears, a broad smile had spread over her face. “I’m sure everyone will be so happy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure you’re right.” Father Rafiel smiled back at her.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the second floor of a completely ordinary shop stood a woman. Yuri. She wasn’t wearing one of her usual pretty dresses. Instead, she was clad in a plain frock, the sort you’d see on any girl in any town.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Divan, why must you always sneak up on me so quietly?” she asked, annoyed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man approaching her from behind laughed. “Well, well. I’m terribly sorry about that. I’m afraid it’s just how I operate, so the young lady must forgive me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri frowned. “Hearing you speak so politely gives me the creeps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Tis only fitting to speak in such a manner to an individual of most esteemed status, my lady. I really have to hand it to you. The prince’s fiancée? Brilliant.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri nodded stiffly. “You have my gratitude. You have protected me all this time, and you’ve always given me the information I needed. So, I always listen to you, and so, I’m here now. Well? What is it this time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I just thought we could chat a bit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Chat?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. You know the dress of Armelian silk that you were so fond of? A very small number of them have reached stores in the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my. Yes, that dress was exquisite—I do want one.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought as much.” Divan’s look was inscrutable. “You should ask the prince. I’m sure he would procure one for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you think so, Divan? I think you’re right.” Yuri giggled, and her irritation dissipated as she smiled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Although it would be risky to do so. The prime minister’s domain has already amassed great wealth, and that purchase would put even more money in his pockets.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose so. But Divan…isn’t that your fault?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I beg your pardon?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, because of your blunder, that girl is still a member of high society. Even after I went through the trouble of introducing you to the pope and everything. But you flubbed that, and now she’s grown even stronger.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that was all due to my ineptitude,” he agreed. “I sincerely apologize that things ended up the way they did despite your efforts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well.” Divan eyed Yuri thoughtfully. “You really despise her, don’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do. I hate her. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and she acts like she was entitled to it. People like her—I can’t stand them. I thought for sure I would get to see her fall from grace once she was expelled from the academy, but…” Yuri paused and peered out the window, almost as if she were looking for Iris. “When I was trapped in that little town, I just kept thinking…that wasn’t where I belonged. That someone as beautiful as me didn’t deserve to wither away in a filthy place like that. That’s why I worked so hard, and why I’ll continue to do everything I must.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re so determined.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m going to hold this country in the palm of my hand. I swear it. And I can’t wait…” Yuri’s voice cracked with excitement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Divan had to applaud her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, right, Divan, I did just as you said and pushed Van aside. He’s disappeared now… Are you sure that was the right decision?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, yes. It was. He would have remained useless if you’d kept him around, in any case. Now that you’ve turned him away, he’ll be useful for the first time in his life.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm. I can’t wait.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It will be worth it.” Divan smiled. “Relatedly, how is the prince doing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, he’s wonderful,” Yuri smiled as well. “Ahh, I’m a bit embarrassed to talk about him! But’s he’s just so adorable.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my. Should I be worried that you’re turning into your mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri’s mood instantly changed, and the air between them iced over. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes shone sharply. “I’m nothing like my mother. And I won’t ever be.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Divan remained unflappable and laughed. “Pleased to hear that. Well, then, until we meet again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes…until then.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rudy, I’m done,” Alfred announced as he threw down his quill.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius gave him a soft smile. “Well done, Your Highness. I’ll take these where they need to go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks.” Alfred let out a sigh that had been building up inside him. Now that he’d taken care of all the business at the palace, he could go to Armelia with a clear conscience.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It should be fine if you take a longer stay,” said Rudius. Alfred had said nothing aloud, but Rudius had a way of responding to his friend’s thoughts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred gave him a crooked smile. “Yes, I think it should be fine. I’ve done more than enough. Although, I do wonder how we got into this position in the first place. What in the world were those officials thinking?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems they’re extremely short-staffed at the castle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The situation had deteriorated to the point that they no longer just needed spies in other countries and domains, but also in the castle itself. They were playing their game of musical chairs with the other royals, and everyone below them was fighting for power and position.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At this point, open attacks were expected at every level, but those required leveraging personal connections and bribes—and those who made serious plays kept on making fools of themselves. As a result, the truly gifted players never made a move in public, or even attempted to leave the field of play entirely. Alfred had picked up as many of those as he could and added them to his own team.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Armelia’s workforce is also suffering, but I envy them all the same. They genuinely don’t have enough people. It’s worse when you have people but they’re simply unproductive.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All of this back and forth in the power struggle had done horrors to the kingdom’s productivity. Alfred wasn’t sure how many actual public servants were even left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m going to rest for a bit. Wake me in an hour,” Alfred told Rudius with a heavy sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re going to rest, why not go to your bedroom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m fine here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Rudius left, Alfred let out yet another sigh and closed his eyes. Perhaps it was the exhaustion, but lately, he’d found himself thinking of his past. Memories from his boyhood. Most of them weren’t particularly good.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The first thing he remembered was being surrounded by adults. As the first-born prince, he was taken from his parents immediately after his birth and reared by caretakers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was a cold child. At the same time, he proved clever. From the age of about three, he became cautious of people and the motives with which they approached him. He observed the adults around him with great care, studying them to learn who meant what they said and who didn’t. Envy, greed, vanity, arrogance, wrath, sloth…he learned what triggered every sin, how they manifested, and what reactions they invited.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(He’d told Rudius of his childhood thoughts once, and Rudius had smiled, exasperated. “I never imagined a three-year-old would think such things, Your Highness.”)",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then Prince Edward was born, complicating Alfred’s life even more. Ellia, who at the time was just the king’s mistress, gained even more power at court and more people flocked to her side. Alfred’s mother, Queen Sharia, was humiliated and more or less lost her status.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred’s memories of her were hazy, to say the least. He never had much occasion to interact with her, though that might have changed, if she hadn’t died when he was so very young. Those who had known her told him that she had been frail but gentle, and she had despised fighting. Alfred thought a person like that must have felt terribly out of place in the cutthroat world of the court.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yet she had endured. Being sickly, she could have withdrawn to the palace as the queen dowager had. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that she remained despite herself. The king had been too attached to let her go.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you here?” Alfred asked her once. “You don’t belong in a place like this.” He said it from a place of concern. Seeing her treated so poorly day in and day out, he wanted to give her heart some ease.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Queen Sharia just smiled softly at him. “I love your father. That’s why.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred wanted to laugh and say, “I don’t get it.” He couldn’t bring himself to; he respected his mother too much. He understood the king’s love was all she had left. She believed in that intangible thing, and it kept her from running away. It held her to this dreadful place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This amazed Alfred, not because he thought it was correct or clever, but because he saw such strength in his mother. At the same time, he had a powerful desire to blame the king for all the hardship his mother suffered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The king was a person, but he was also an institution, a symbol and a tool who needed to represent the entire country. As such, he couldn’t always do as he pleased, even when it came to protecting his beloved Queen Sharia from the ire of Ellia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps he should have devoted himself solely to the system from the start. He had put his personal feelings first when he made Sharia his queen. All the horrors that had come with that position weren’t her fault at all, Alfred thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If only the king had never set eyes on her. Then she could have fallen in love with anyone else and lived a peaceful life. She wouldn’t have had her heart broken or been exposed to constant danger. She would never have worn that sad smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Queen Sharia grew even weaker after Leticia’s birth, but the king only grew more attached to her. Of course, Ellia was unamused. Thus, she took action: to kill Queen Sharia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ellia had already gained control of the inner palace and those who worked there. No one had to tell Queen Sharia for her to realize as much. That was why she had told Alfred, “Protect Leticia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She didn’t say this to the king—she said it only to her son. Perhaps she had realized by then that the king was nothing but a tool in the hands of others. She had certainly realized that, at times, one must put one’s interests ahead of one’s relationships.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred, wanting to keep his promise to his mother, acted immediately. He asked Rudius to help him see the queen dowager. Until that meeting, under the watchful eye of Marquis Anderson, he made sure that only people who could be completely trusted were ever allowed near the young princess.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, the day came. Alfred sneaked out of the castle to meet his grandmother, the queen dowager, for the first time. He begged her to take care of Leticia, offering his own freedom as collateral.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From the moment he met her, Alfred could tell that the queen dowager was deeply concerned for Queen Sharia, as well as for her two children. At the same time, the queen dowager proved she had once been a ruler by demonstrating her cunning and forethought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So long as Alfred remained in the castle, she said, the fight over succession would only grow further inflamed. She was additionally afraid that Alfred, being so young, would be swept up in the power struggle as a puppet, not a person. She warned him then and there that even if she took him under her protection, they would only be delaying the inevitable conflict. So long as Alfred had royal blood flowing through his veins, he would always be the first prince, and for that, Ellia would always be out to kill him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So,” said the queen dowager, “you must become more powerful. Learn to judge people so you won’t be used. Forge a shield with which to protect yourself. A king is the quintessential symbol of power—so he mustn’t let himself be taken advantage of. To hungry aristocrats, kings are like delicious nectar. If he shows the least sign of weakness, they’ll eat him alive, no matter how they wound the kingdom when they do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was why the queen dowager wanted to avoid letting Edward become a prince. If he did, those ravenous aristocrats would gain a dangerous amount of power over the line of succession. Once they had that, the royal castle would begin to rot from the inside out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager heaved a troubled sigh. This succession crisis had become a deep abiding worry for her. “That is why you must gain your own power. And as you do, you must keep House Marea from matching your influence. That is my condition.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred didn’t even have to think about it. After all, power was what would keep him safe. Nevertheless, he realized it would be risky to gain influence too publicly. He couldn’t pretend to be an idiot, either, or he risked getting dismissed from court. At least for now, under the queen dowager’s protection, he could guarantee his safety for at least a few years and devote himself to his studies.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When he told the queen dowager his decision, she smiled. She seemed truly happy. “I’m quite strict!” she warned him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll do my best to make you proud,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She laughed. He’d meant it in a stubborn way, but she didn’t seem to mind. “You’re a clever boy. I like you. Now become the type of boy I would regret ever letting go!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred had, by some means, just solidified her affection for him. She seemed almost ready to insist he remain by her side for the rest of his days.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But take it easy on my old bones!” she said with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Deep down, Alfred was frustrated by the state of things. By all rights, the first prince was the crown prince, expected to succeed the throne. But the queen dowager was right that if he didn’t grow powerful enough to even step into the ring when he was older, he should make peace with losing his rights. Even if he did manage to end up on the throne, he would inherit a kingdom at war with itself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If that happened, he had no doubt that the queen dowager would use her influence to remove him from power and back the second prince. She would use the fact that she had overthrown the first prince to win allies from the second prince’s faction, and then once she had gotten close enough, would take control from them. She would use Edward as her puppet to establish the power she wanted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Grandmother,” said Alfred, all this on his mind. “I’ll do my best to remain in your favor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After this meeting, Princess Leticia was quietly removed to the palace, along with Alfred.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Days after they left, Queen Sharia was killed. Her doctor claimed that Ellia was responsible. She had been poisoned, he said. Yet he was powerless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though the physician knew that Ellia had been behind the murder of Alfred’s mother, he had no influence to undo the cover up. And even if he’d said something, everyone who could have done anything was under Ellia’s thumb.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was all Alfred and the queen dowager could do to protect Leticia. For the first time in Alfred’s life, he was left feeling bereft by his own helplessness.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Sharia’s funeral was modest and small. After the event, the king was so distressed that he became visibly haggard. Seeing his father in such a state made Alfred feel nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Worse, the incident made Alfred the primary target of Ellia’s ire. She had truly believed that the king’s heart would belong only to her once Queen Sharia was dead. But once it was clear that this would not happen and her dreams were shattered, Ellia cracked as well. She took on the role of a tragic woman scorned by the love she most desired.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred never felt the least bit of pity for her. In truth, he was glad that he was able to see her actions so clearly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, the king summoned Alfred to him and said, “My beloved wife bore me a daughter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred’s first reaction was anger; after all this time, now the king asked after Leticia? He’d never cared a whit about the children when their mother was alive, that was for sure.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure she’s a beautiful girl. She must look just like her mother. I wish to see her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The instant Alfred heard that, his irritation vanished. Instead, a chill ran down his spine. He knew instantly that this was dangerous. Leticia looked so much like their mother that the king would without a doubt instantly adore her. He would try to fill the hole in his heart left by his late wife by showering his daughter with affection. And that would make Ellia target Leticia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ellia already felt jilted. There was no telling what she might do if she saw the king dote on Leticia. The fact that his blood flowed through the princess’s veins wouldn’t even register in her jealousy-addled mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The queen dowager sees to Leticia’s care,” said Alfred, choosing his words carefully. “She always says that my sister is the spitting image of you, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this, the king lost interest in Leticia. He never again asked to see her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Although it seemed things in the castle were peaceful again, Queen Ellia continued to target Alfred’s life and began dispatching assassins. He had no time to waste when it came to training to win this battle. As such, his skills progressed so rapidly that they left General Gazell tongue-tied. Alfred was so stubborn about his training that he made lasting connections during it. The general put him through hell—but only out of adoration. Alfred was truly grateful for it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, being trapped in the gilded cage of the palace gave Alfred a hunger for knowledge. Within a few years, his existence had been largely forgotten, and he started to be more forward about going out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred sneaked into the castle and pretended to be a diplomat. He infiltrated the barracks and trained alongside the soldiers. He traveled to other domains and observed life there. Along the way, he recruited any particularly skilled people he met to his service. At last, he changed his name and attended the academy, then joined the merchant guild. By that time, the queen dowager no longer objected to his forays into the public eye. In fact, she seemed to take pleasure in it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At last, Alfred’s thoughts turned to the day he’d met Iris at the palace. He wondered if she remembered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She probably doesn’t, he thought with an inward chuckle. They had both been very young at the time, after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Iris’s mother, Merellis, had brought her to the palace for a visit, and the children had run into each other in the gardens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who are you?” Iris had asked him, her large eyes sparkling with curiosity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That had been the beginning of it all. Iris assumed Alfred was a live-in apprentice servant who worked at the palace, and they saw each other constantly after that. He came to look forward to their meetings. Most of the time, it had just been her talking away animatedly with her eyes shining as he nodded and listened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then, one day, she said, “I can’t come here anymore.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have to start learning how to become a member of the royal family. So I’ll have to be at home all the time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you mean…you’re marrying into the royal family?” Alfred asked tentatively. “You’re engaged to the second prince?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah! That’s exactly how Grandmother reacted! Prince Ed is such a lovely person, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? And what makes you think that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I was at his birthday party. Everyone always says I’m cute, but you know, they only say that because when they look at me, they see my mother’s face. They think I’ll turn out just like her. The people who don’t think that say I look like my father. I think that either way, people are more attracted to my family’s power than to my appearance. When I told Prince Ed that, he laughed. He said, ‘I wouldn’t be happy if someone said I was cute, especially not if they’re just comparing me to my family.’ Then he said, ‘Make those people who compare you to your parents eat their words. You’re your own person, and you should feel confident.’ Don’t you think he’s the loveliest person?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s when I thought, ‘Oh, I want to stand by his side!’ My parents and grandmother were totally against it, though. But I begged and begged, and they finally agreed. In exchange, I have to go back to the duchy with Mother and study at our estate. I have to be able to protect Prince Ed from all the bad people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m going to try really hard so I can be with him. But I won’t be able to see Grandmother Iria anymore, or my father. Or you. I’m really sad.” Fat tears streamed down Iris’s cheeks.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred smiled. He felt like crying too—because hearing of Iris’s betrothal to the second prince only spelled danger for him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not like you’re going away forever. If you want to see someone, you can see them. If you really want to, you’ll find a way,” he murmured as he wiped her tears away. “Study very hard to protect the second prince so that the bad grown-ups don’t take advantage of him. Make him love you so much that he’d choose you over his own family. If you do that, your hard work will be worth it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred could only hope that Iris would be able to keep the second prince away from House Marea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was a gamble on his part. Honestly, all he wanted to do was thwart Iris’s engagement to the second prince. But he couldn’t. First of all, he didn’t have the power to interfere with a decision the prime minister and the queen dowager had jointly made. Secondly, Iris was around the same age as Leticia. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her big eyes filled with determination. Just looking at her made Alfred feel close to her, for some reason.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Never fear. There’s nothing to worry about. I know you can do it.” Alfred rested his forehead against hers. “I do this for my little sister to make her feel better.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, he didn’t see Iris again until they passed each other in the halls of the academy. He wondered if she had been working hard. In truth, he was disappointed when he saw her again—though he couldn’t put his finger on what it was about her that disappointed him, or what he had been hoping for.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Only when he saw her again, working as the acting governor, did he realize that he had been wrong. In fact, he praised his childhood self for the hunch he’d had all those years ago.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe he’d just been blinded by jealousy when he heard rumors about her at the academy…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, the queen dowager had felt proud relief when she saw how Iris had grown at the Foundation Day party. Simultaneously, Alfred’s world began to take on new color.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In their bloodthirsty world, where everyone wore a fake smile, Iris still possessed the innocent smile of a young girl. But she also grew angry at the absurdity of the world, and she agonized over her own powerlessness. Alfred had thought she would show her feelings as freely as she had when she was young, but instead she mastered her emotions and gritted her teeth. She pushed herself forward, coming up with new ideas and chasing victory with pure determination.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred was drawn to every part of her. He wanted to spoil her rotten. He yearned to sweep her up in his arms and keep her all for himself rather than risk letting her heart be taken by anyone else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He chided himself for the thought every time. He told himself not to forget that the obsessed king’s blood ran through his veins.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps Iris wouldn’t end up like Queen Sharia. After all, she belonged to one of the most influential aristocratic families in Tasmeria. On top of that, she was highly educated. When it came to marriage, she could have her choice of anyone in any country, even another first prince—or Alfred himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius had once pointed out that their engagement would benefit both Alfred and House Armelia. But if Alfred loved her, how could he ever ask her to join him on such a dangerous path? If he pursued her before he took care of Ellia, Iris would be targeted with a vengeance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even attending the Foundation Day celebration at the queen dowager’s express invitation had put Iris in danger. She had restored her reputation, but she was still treated like an outsider.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Moreover, even once the battle for succession was settled, Alfred was afraid of becoming his father. He feared the blood that ran through him, the blood of a man who would clip the wings of the woman he loved to keep her in the cage that was the castle. The man who would tell her: Look only at me. Who would tie her down until she suffocated and tear her away from every other person who loved her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Alfred did any of that, he would destroy Iris; she would no longer be the free-spirited, independent woman he had fallen in love with. It was a paradox.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At some point, Alfred would have to resume his public role in the royal family. That day wasn’t far off now, and it would be the end for them. If Iris couldn’t join the royal family by his side, they wouldn’t be able to retain their present intimacy. That was why Alfred just wanted to have things go his way, just for a little longer. Iris had taught him how to feel again. He would never leave her, not until he was forced to.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 10",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 14: The Duke's Daughter Has a Bad Feeling",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 14:The Duke's Daughter Has a Bad Feeling",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“ALL RIGHT, that should do it.” I scratched my quill across the paper and signed the last document for the day. “I’m so glad I decided to invite all those truant officials back. There’s so much less for me to do now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew it was unseemly, but I slumped over and lay facedown upon my desk. My head was unbearably heavy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You did a wonderful job today, my lady.” Tanya giggled softly as she set a cup of tea on my desk.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To my surprise, there was a knock at the door, and Dean appeared in the doorway. “Pardon me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean!” I quickly sat up and hastily patted down my hair. Why did he always insist on dropping in unannounced?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s been a long time, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yes, it has.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We hadn’t seen each other since I met him and Letty. At the time, I’d been annoyed with him—until I realized Letty was his sister. Thinking back on it now, I shouldn’t have treated him in such a way. After all, I had no right to tie him down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Dean wasn’t under contract with me, it wasn’t like we were perfect strangers, but we were first and foremost acquaintances. I had no business being angry with him when he was out living his life, even if I had been going through a rough time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I needed to stop thinking about it, either way. If I thought about it too much, I’d ruminate over my immature reaction to seeing him with Letty, and then I would want to crawl into a hole and die!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come when you needed me most,” Dean said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine. I know you have other responsibilities.” I gestured for him to sit down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya had already prepared some tea for him. Dean took a seat and sipped it while I filled him in on the goings-on in Armelia during his absence. I ended up venting a bit, but he never looked irritated and just listened intently.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So have you been into town since then?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm? No. I want to go, though.” I just hadn’t managed to do it, not even after what Mina said. When it came down to actually going through with it, I just kept hesitating. There was also the matter of how much work was on my desk, but…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You do want to?” Dean asked, and I nodded. “Then I’ll do everything I can to help. I know you, and I know if you have even a speck of work left, you’ll use that as an excuse not to go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh…” He’d said it with a smile, but I had to admit that he’d hit me where it hurt. Way to call me out, Dean!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But since you say you’ve finished your work, you really should go. It’ll just keep bothering you if you don’t.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right…” If I kept putting it off, it would get harder and harder to do—and it would weigh on me all the while. Then I would drag it out even further. “I’ll leave at the next opportunity. Will you help me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course.” Dean smiled at me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All right, then. I’d do my best.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I have a word?” Dean called out to Tanya in the hallway when she came to take the dishes away.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean casually looked around. When he saw that they were alone, he continued. “You know Dorssen Kataberia, I take it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her gaze grew sharper at hearing the name. “Of course. What about him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hear he’s been lurking around the duchy and Lady Iris. I haven’t figured out what he’s after yet, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Where did you hear that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“From a little bird in the capital. One I met through General Gazell.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.” Tanya nodded. If the source was related to the general, then it was a credible one indeed. After all, he was respected deeply not only by the army but also by the knights. “What would you have me do with this information?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the real question. On the surface, Tanya appeared to be nothing more than a maid. Very few people knew that she served Iris in other capacities.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wanted to confirm the tip as soon as possible. I knew you would be my best bet in the name of doing so. Am I wrong?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why me?” Tanya pressed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean chuckled. “I can tell just by watching you serve tea that you’ve been trained in martial arts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“General Gazell was my master, too. That’s how. Moreover, from what I know about you personally, I know that for Lady Iris, you would use your skills to your utmost ability.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t that what her bodyguards are for?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? And you’re not one of them? I don’t seem to recall discussing the details of anyone’s job description.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya frowned for a split second; Dean had her backed into a corner. To be more precise, she had dug herself into a hole.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean sensed what she was thinking, and his smile grew stiff. “I’ve been too forward. What I meant to say was that your movements made clear to me that you have training. The way you observe your surroundings, the way you carry yourself. So it wouldn’t surprise me if you were more than simply a maid and if you in fact also acted as Lady Iris’s eyes and ears. At least, that would be my guess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re correct.” Tanya wasn’t sure if she should be questioning her skills or praising Dean’s. “Where exactly did you come from?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It just wasn’t right. A man who had only dabbled in martial arts shouldn’t have been able to recognize her skills merely from studying her in her duties. She had spent over a decade under the careful tutelage of General Gazell, sharpening her skills. Perhaps Dean had faced someone like her before? That might have explained his ability to recognize Tanya’s way of holding herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any other circumstance, she would have made that guess. That was why she doubted it. Why would the son of a merchant belonging to the merchant guild ever expect to be involved in such a fight?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She asked as much; he laughed. There was a darkness in his eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No matter, then,” Tanya said. She could tell she wouldn’t get anything else out of him at this rate. “In any case, I’ll go ahead and let Lady Iris know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean seemed surprised. “I thought you would confirm the information first.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll look into it, of course, but it’s best if she knows right away. Does that surprise you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I thought you might not want to worry her with unconfirmed information.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s unconfirmed, not unreliable.” And to be true, there was a time when Tanya would have withheld information for just that reason. However… “Lady Iris stands on her own two feet and moves ever forward. Since I serve her, I cannot stand in her way without a good reason.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya had changed, too, just as Iris had when she resolved herself to be ready for war. Tanya remembered the goosebumps that had rippled down her arms when Iris addressed her truant officials, and she remembered the conversation she’d had with Dida, alone in the middle of a dark night.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her job wasn’t to wrap Iris in silk; it was to follow her mistress’s orders and assist her, and at times to serve as her spy. Tanya wouldn’t stand in Iris’s way just because she wanted to protect her, and so she couldn’t cover Iris’s eyes and ears either. To do so would be to overstep her bounds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know you wouldn’t do that either,” Tanya said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean stared at Tanya for a moment, surprised. Then he smiled. “I’m honored to hear you say as much. Well, please go ahead and confirm the information. I’ll be awaiting your news.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was planning on it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, Dean turned and left. Tanya continued on in the opposite direction, ready to get back to work.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was truly amazing how fast I got through work with Dean at my side. It was like I’d cloned myself. We muscled through a mountain of backlog in no time at all.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The work had piled up for two reasons. First, I was running a company at the same time as governing a duchy. Second, I was engaged in tens of different projects in the name of reforming Armelia, and all that was on top of my routine work. And then there was how long I’d been away in the capital dealing with the church. And then I’d had to deal with the officials on strike.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words: Under normal circumstances, I’d never have ended up with such a tremendous backlog, although granted, it wasn’t unusual for one or two piles to gather on my desk in the course of running both Armelia and Azuta. At any rate, I made a real dent in the work thanks to Dean. I couldn’t help but be impressed with him every time he turned up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A certain group of government officials groaned whenever Dean arrived, saying things like “Oh, great, the workhorse is here…” and “I should’ve taken a vacation,” while they lamented not being able to go back in time. The only officials who enjoyed his presence were those who worked at Bursa; Dean always managed to get them fired up, and they had all vowed to beat him one day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What in the world had Dean done to inspire such heated feelings? I’d asked them once, but all they’d done was smile and say, “Only the best of the best work we’ve ever produced. We can’t help but be competitive.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was true that he was fast at his job, and the officials grew haggard trying to keep up with him. That was how we finished work early enough one day that I was able to go to town.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya did such a good job with my disguise that I hardly recognized myself. She used special makeup techniques that went beyond the normal scope of prettying my face. I also wore glasses, and I used a product from the Azuta Corporation to change my hair color. The last change was shrugging into a cotton frock, and then I was all done. In fact, I looked so different that even those close to me probably wouldn’t have been able to tell who I was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s go, Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Be careful,” Tanya said. She wasn’t coming with us; she had something she needed to investigate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, both Lyle and Dida were presently away from the estate. Dida had gone to east Armelia and Lyle to the north. My initial plan had been to bring multiple guards with me in their stead, but Tanya had been against it. She pointed out that if I had too many guards, no matter how elaborate my makeup, my true identity would be obvious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite Mina’s reassurances, I really didn’t want to draw any attention to myself. To be honest, I was still a little nervous about having only one guard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean won the responsibility of escorting me, though honestly, he was the best option. He could hold his own against Lyle and Dida, and he wasn’t widely recognized in town. Tanya didn’t object either. In fact, it sounded like she’d wanted me to bring him in the first place. Something had changed in her lately, and I really had to wonder about that. A change of heart? But that was only part of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, Dean and I went to town together. It was as lively and bustling as usual. Merchants were lined up on the roads, and people strolled down the streets, perusing their wares.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah…” I was so unused to being in crowds again that I accidentally bumped into someone and stumbled. I’d basically been a hermit lately, after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean caught my arm. “Are you all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry, yes. Thank you.” I looked up, feeling embarrassed. Dean’s face was closer than I’d imagined it would be. That only made me feel even shyer. Heat rose in my cheeks, and I looked down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There are a lot of people here, huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yes, but I’m glad,” I murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean smiled tenderly at me—he realized the meaning behind my words. The volume of people meant the economy was good. Things were so stable that they could afford to have leisure time in town. People were only this carefree about shopping in peace times, after all. I had lived in such times in my previous life, and I’d taken scenes like this for granted. Now I knew just how special they were. That was why seeing the town like this felt like proof that I had been doing a good job—and it made me so, so happy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We shouldn’t just stand here or we’ll be in the way,” Dean said. “Let’s go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d become distracted by the view, but Dean had a point. I was standing smack-dab in the middle of the street.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right, we should go.” I made to start walking, but Dean suddenly held his hand out to me. I stared at it in surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There are so many people here. I don’t want you to get lost,” he said with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Right again. I wanted to take his hand, but I was oddly nervous. The hesitation overcame me, and it definitely got a bit weird. Finally, I mustered the courage to take his hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean’s hand was larger than mine, and rougher…and warm. A smile crossed my face. It felt like his warmth traveled straight to my heart. It made me glad. I found myself wishing the moment could last longer—forever.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Alice, you have some free time today, right?” Dean asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, thanks to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then let’s take a detour,” he said, tugging on my hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was a bit surprised, but my foremost feeling was still delight. The grin on my face felt so natural.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I haven’t been here very much.” I said as we walked along a street lined with large shops.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When you used to come, you mostly stuck to the downtown neighborhood or the vicinity of the church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think you’re right. But where are we going?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought it would be good to look at some other shops for a change. The place I most want to take you is a café everyone’s been talking about.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Everyone…from Bursa, you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. I heard about it from Lyle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, good. I can’t wait.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean was still holding my hand as we walked down the street.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I noticed a shop I was interested in. “Let’s go in there,” I suggested.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, okay.” He seemed oddly reluctant for a moment, so I pulled him along.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a jewelry store.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome,” said the employee at the register. Then he spied Dean. “Oh, it’s you!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you know each other?” I glanced at Dean curiously.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, back when I used to work for the merchant guild. There’s something I want to ask him, actually. Is that all right with you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course. Go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He paused before he left. “My lady, please stay inside the shop at all times. This won’t take long.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean disappeared into the back room with the employee. We were still in the same building, and since the jewelry shop had its own guards, I was sure it was fine. I went ahead and browsed the wares.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, what’s this?” I spotted a beautiful pocket watch among the other offerings. It seemed an odd choice for a jewelry store, but as I examined it, I realized gemstones were embedded in the case. “Goodness…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your friend went in the back with the man who runs our sister clock shop,” said another employee. “Those watches are the product of our collaboration. I can vouch for the craftsmanship.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I picked up watch after watch to admire them. Each one was better than the last. I was positively entranced.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“These are lovely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. The leaf motif is embossed and set with sapphires. The same color as your eyes, in fact.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll take it, thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, thank you. Before I wrap it up, I’ll get the instructions on its care from the artisan. Could you wait a moment?” I agreed, and the employee went into the back room as well. They said it would take a while, so I chatted with another employee while I looked at the other wares.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My, are you sure that’s the correct price?” I asked with surprise when I heard the total.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. This shop doesn’t cater to the nobility. Our main clientele are from merchant families, such as yourself. We primarily use sapphires, but since no one would buy them loose, we set them in jewelry like so. That drops the price quite a bit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Merchant families?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Am I wrong? I apologize, I was only guessing because of your friend.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s all right. You were just spot-on, so I was startled. I see. Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took the package just as Dean came back into the room, though I quickly hid the package in my purse.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry it took so long,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s quite all right. I made the most of my time here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, we kept walking down the street until we ended up at the café we’d originally been aiming for. They had a ton of frozen treats that were the talk of the town. We enjoyed trying various things until we were full.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We had taken our time, and I realized we’d been gone for quite a while. Time really did fly when you were having fun.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As we were walking, something caught my eye, and I stopped.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?” Dean asked with concern.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave him a reassuring smile. “This alleyway just reminds me of someplace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right after I became the acting governor, I took a few companions to tour the domain.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida told me about that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s the one. So anyway, we were in the eastern region of Armelia and I came across a dark alleyway. I started to walk toward it—I was just curious.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And they stopped you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Dida, specifically. He said I wasn’t ready for it yet.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I finally understood what he had meant. It didn’t matter how nice and peaceful a place looked on the surface; all it took was one step in the wrong direction, and you might enter a completely different world. A dark world. One where darkness came not from poverty or misfortune, and one that felt completely different from how it first appeared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d seen such a place in my past life, too. I’d been walking around idly, feeling excited because I was on a trip. I’d thought being a tourist meant nothing bad could possibly happen to me. I’d been in the middle of a seemingly idyllic town, but when I took a single step into a certain alleyway, the atmosphere had abruptly changed. The people on the streets had turned to me with sharply glinting eyes. The buildings had looked identical to the buildings everywhere else, but I’d been overwhelmed by a heavy, intimidating aura. I had known, instinctually, that I’d walked into a dangerous place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I remembered being incredibly frightened. To think I’d repeated the same behavior even in my next life! It just went to show how little progress I’d actually made.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, every town had places where darkness gathered—places where certain organizations were in control. I wouldn’t have said such organizations were necessary evils, but they did help maintain order in some neighborhoods. I was glad I hadn’t stuck my nose into their business without thinking. Unlike in my past life, I had an important social role in this one, and it was my responsibility to honor that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Honestly, it was possible that the organizations in Armelia wouldn’t entertain the thought of an audience with me even now. They might even eat me alive at the first opportunity. If I really wanted to meet them head-on, I would have to build a system strong enough to surpass them, and I’d have to be powerful enough to force them to abide by it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wonder what Dida would tell me now? That’s all I was wondering,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not sure. Even if you were ready to meet them, Dida would probably give you the same answer. He ran with them once, so he probably wants you to stay far away from that life.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, you know about that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I heard a bit about it when I was training with General Gazell.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. And what did you think when you heard?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing in particular. It’s not that unusual.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now I’m curious to know what you would consider unusual.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean laughed. “Well, I know that Dida has a very keen sense for danger, which he likely learned when he was very little. What about you? What did you think?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nothing, really. No matter who he once was or what he’s done, he’s never been anything but good to me. And I think who he is now is more important than who he was then. Besides, he’s very important to me. He’s family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think that’s quite wise of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you? Ah, look at the time. We should go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We started off again. Our next stop was to visit an old man who owned a restaurant. I was nervous going in, but he didn’t recognize me at first. I was once more impressed with Tanya’s makeup skills.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I introduced myself properly, he stared at me blankly. Then he burst into an enormous smile, delighted that I was visiting. In fact, he was so happy that he ordered a free round of drinks for all the customers, on the house—much to his wife’s dismay. To be fair, she also greeted me tearfully, and she insisted we would eat for free.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We were greeted warmly everywhere we went, at the florist, at the fishmonger’s. One by one, we went to everyone who knew “Alice.” None of them said the least word against me. In fact, it was all tearful words of gratitude and heartfelt apologies. Soon, it was so much that I wanted to cry.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They all adore you,” Dean said with a smile on the way home.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From the bottom of my heart, all I could feel was gratitude.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In my past life, I’d devoted all my time to my job. But what had I ever gotten from it? I’d always felt short on time, racing to finish projects at work. My personal relationships had suffered because of it. Money builds up when you don’t have time to use it. At some point, you become numb to it all and start to feel like you’re in a game.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was a freedom in the loneliness. It can be easy to live in a world when you’re by yourself all the time. It also feels empty.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I still threw myself into my work in Armelia; the difference was that I was so happy. Seeing people smile and hearing their kind words meant the world to me. I didn’t think it was just because I had a different status. No, I had changed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I suspected it also had to do with how well my two selves were fusing together. Specifically, the biggest factor was most likely the fact that I had so many experiences to compare and contrast. I’d thrown myself into my next life headfirst, and I wanted to thank God for giving me the chance to be reincarnated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I looked up at Dean. He noticed my gaze and smiled. I naturally smiled back at him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for today,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. I should thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s somewhere I’d like to stop before we go home. Is that all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean nodded, and it was my turn to take his hand and start walking.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was a lake on the grounds of the estate, a large one by the forest, that was fed by a small spring inside the woods. The two of us stood at the edge of the spring. The sun had already gone down, and the moon and stars glowed overhead.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s beautiful… It’s funny how I live here, but for so long, I didn’t know I had a view like this,” I murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It is a bit far from the house.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right. I found it once on a walk I took during the afternoon, but it turns out that it’s especially beautiful at night.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The full moon and starry sky were reflected in the surface of the water. We were surrounded by trees and quiet, enfolded by serenity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Dean? Thanks. For everything you’ve done.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no need to thank me, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do need to, though. You connected me with Father Rafsimons, which enabled me to prove my innocence. That’s why I want to thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did it because I belong to you. But I will gratefully accept your words of gratitude.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have more than words to give you. Here, take this.” I took out the sapphire-flecked watch I had bought earlier. I’d had them wrap it, so Dean didn’t know what was inside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady…I couldn’t possibly accept this,” he said with a lopsided smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I pushed it into his hand anyway. “Please. You really did help me so much. And not just with your actions. You helped my heart as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your heart?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I think I was always afraid to show any weakness or let anyone into my heart. I thought it would just cause trouble for them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I was still afraid. I didn’t want to get hurt, so I hid my weak self deep inside me—I hid so no one would expect anything from me, and so I wouldn’t get my hopes up about anyone either. But being alone was miserably difficult, so I pushed my strong, reliable self to the front.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I couldn’t take it anymore. I hit my limit the day you spoke to me. When you brought out my weaknesses, I was relieved. When you told me it was okay to lean on you, I was so happy, and my heart felt so light. You really saved me. And this is to thank you for that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I open it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean unwrapped the small package, and his eyes widened with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I found it today,” I said. “I thought you could use it for work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t know what to say,” he said with a sheepish grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The reaction pushed me to the verge of panic—oh, no—",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady…I actually have a present for you as well.” A determined look came over Dean’s face as he handed me a box.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. The box was from the same shop.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please open it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hesitantly took the box and cracked it open. “Oh, my!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was also a watch, but this one was embossed with an exquisite rose, and the gemstones decorating it were a beautiful emerald green—the same color as Dean’s eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a congratulatory gift,” he said, “as well as an apology.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An apology?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. You thanked me for it, but I was very harsh with you that day. I wanted to apologize. As for congratulations, that’s because your conflict with the Church was resolved and you were found innocent.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please accept it. The owner of that shop is a friend of mine. I wondered why he told me it was on the house, but then… Well, just look.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did as he said and saw that when you held both pocket watches next to each other, an embossed line seemed to connect the two designs. Mine was a rose, and his was a leaf. The line connecting the two looked like ivy, joining them together.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Those brothers sure are something,” Dean said with a laugh. “They put a lot of thought into this design. I know it may be forward of me, but I dearly want you to keep the other half of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My heart was pounding so hard that I was worried I wouldn’t be able to survive it. But I smiled, and I accepted the watch. “Thank you. I’m so truly happy…”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“One day, you’re going to protect the royal family.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Where had he gone wrong? Whenever Dorssen Kataberia asked himself that, he remembered the words his father had told him every day of his life as he grew up. His father was Doruna Kataberia, the knight commander of Tasmeria, and he had been training Dorssen ever since he was young.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen had taken pride in those words, so he had enthusiastically devoted himself to his training. At the same time, growing up like that, he’d thought that entering the academy was incredibly tiresome. He would’ve rather stayed at home and become a knight’s squire instead. Unfortunately, as House Kataberia’s only son, he was obligated to attend the academy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even after he joined, thanks to his quiet nature, he’d never truly grown used to it. Then one day, he met a girl. Her name was Yuri Neuer. They met on the school training grounds, which the students were free to use as they pleased. Dorssen trained there by himself almost every day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s amazing.” This was the first thing she ever said to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, I’m sorry. I come this way every day, over by the edge of the field. So do you, right? I’ve been wondering what you’re doing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the edge?” There was a flower bed in the back of the training grounds, but no path went by it, so it was ill maintained and mostly just weeds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I thought it was a shame that there was such a large flower bed with no flowers, so I’ve been trying to garden. I got the school’s permission, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t have to worry. It’s not like I would’ve reported you or something.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that’s part of it, but…it’s a bit unusual for the daughter of a baron to be getting her hands dirty, you know? So I don’t really want to talk about it much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not like you’re hurting anyone. I won’t say anything either way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks. So? What are you doing here every day?” Yuri’s smile reminded him of a flower in bloom. For some reason, that warmed him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I can tell that you’re training. But I wonder what for? You’re already the top student in the martial arts class.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was taking that course as an elective, as were the other children of knights. Some of them just wanted to learn how to protect their families, while others were second or third sons who dreamed of becoming a knight themselves.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not training for class.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re not?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. I’m training so that I can offer my services to the royal family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri stared at him blankly for a few moments, then she smiled deeply. “That’s wonderful. I bet it would feel so wonderfully reassuring to be protected by someone like you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those words and that smile left a lasting impression on Dorssen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From time to time, Yuri would come to visit him while he was training. They would chat a bit, and then she would leave. At first, he didn’t think anything of it, but gradually, he found himself looking forward to seeing her. She would compliment things that came naturally to him, telling him that he was wonderful. That he was amazing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He found those compliments so encouraging that they made him even more enthusiastic about his exercise. He thought multiple times that he would love to devote his sword to her. Every time he chided himself, reminding himself that his sword was meant for the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By the time Dorssen realized he was in love with Yuri, she was already engaged to Prince Edward. At first he was depressed, but his desire to protect her won out. He realized that he could love her even while missing her, and that somewhat healed his heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even better, he realized he would now be able to dedicate himself to her protection. During the conflict between Iris, Yuri, and Edward, he had of course taken Yuri’s side. Iris’s expulsion had been in the name of protecting Yuri. So he’d thought, at least.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What have you done?” Doruna, his father, asked in an incredibly stern tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen didn’t know what he meant and gave him a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His father heaved a sigh. “I’m talking about the duke’s daughter!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why are you yelling?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you serious?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t believe you’d raised a hand to the duke’s daughter—even worse, you aspire to become a knight, and you raised your hand to a woman, period! Where is your pride in our chivalric code?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But the duke’s daughter was abusing Lady Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And did you see her doing it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-well, not directly, but everyone said—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And did you investigate these claims to ensure their verity? Did you witness any of it with your own eyes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-no…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so furious, I don’t even know what to say! You raised a hand to a woman without proof! To the fiancée of the second prince! You don’t deserve to be a knight! You’ve brought shame both on this house and on the knighthood itself!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But I—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll hear none of your excuses! I order you to stay at home until you’ve cooled off that damn head of yours!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, Doruna ordered the butler to escort Dorssen to his room and confine him there. For a good long while, Dorssen was not allowed to attend school, which meant he was unable to train. He had nothing to do besides sit in his room and think.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen had no idea why he was being punished. All he’d wanted was to protect Yuri. After he had been confined for a set period of time, his father allowed him to resume his training but forbade him from seeing Yuri. This just led Dorssen to distrust his father’s judgment even more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t until after he saw Yuri again at the Foundation Day celebration that he came to understand his father’s sentiment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His mother summoned him to meet with her after the party. “It’s good to see you again, Dorssen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hello, Mother,” he said as the butler placed a teacup and a plate in front of him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s called chocolate. It’s quite popular in the capital now. Try it,” his mother urged.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen had never seen anything like this food before, and he took a bite.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was made by the company House Armelia owns.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“House Armelia…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just as the queen dowager said, the one running the company is Lady Iris. The daughter of Duke Armelia.” Lady Kataberia seemed sad when she said Iris’s name. “Dorssen, can you really hold your head high and say you did the right thing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly, your actions have led to some significant political difficulties for our house. But putting that aside, do you really think you did the right thing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her question puzzled him. Dorssen didn’t know what she meant. He thought he’d done the right thing, without a doubt. But he had been punished, and his father had told him he had brought shame to the entire knighthood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Did this mean his father had been angry merely because Dorssen had caused social problems for House Kataberia? If so, then he was even more convinced than ever of the rightness of his actions. As long as he protected Yuri, he didn’t care what happened to his family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really, Dorssen, and this might sound rude, but…I feel sorry for the duke’s daughter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And why is that, Mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because Yuri Neuer set her eyes on a man who was already engaged and stole him away from Lady Iris. As a woman, I can understand why Lady Iris reacted like she did. Another woman grew close to her fiancé for malicious reasons. She felt jealous and threatened. Who could blame her for speaking against Yuri?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yuri stole away the person she loved. And for it, you humiliated her in front of the entire academy, and now she’s been exiled from high society.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen thought back to the final confrontation they’d had with Iris.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ms. Yuri. What more do you wish to steal from me? You’ve taken my fiancé, my position…” She’d said this while tears welled in her eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems to me that these chocolates are a symbol of her determination,” said his mother. “Her determination to make it alone, without marrying. Her engagement was broken, and she was written off by the aristocracy. It will indeed be difficult for her to find another respectable union. And Dorssen…you raised a hand to her, participated in her humiliation, and supported the woman who instigated her fall to ruin. So, as a knight, can you really say you did the right thing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…” Dorssen couldn’t argue with that. He hadn’t thought about it. It was so obvious, yet he’d never considered Iris’s pain—or her sadness, which must have been insurmountable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you satisfied that you protected the woman you love? Is that what you honed your skills for?” His mother shook her head. “Dorssen, I really wouldn’t believe something until I saw proof of it myself. And what I saw at the celebration was you speaking to Prince Edward and Yuri—and that you confronted Lady Iris. What was that all about? Were you really speaking ill of Lady Iris just to gain someone else’s attention? Is that how a knight treats a lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Every word Dorssen’s mother spoke twisted the knife lodged in his heart. There was no going back now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m no knight,” she went on, “so perhaps I don’t understand the code or your vows. But at the celebration, I saw you treat Lady Iris with what I could only call outright abuse.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Dorssen’s father had scolded him, he’d only felt rebellious. Now his heart was filled with confusion and regret.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hope you feel ashamed of yourself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Following his meeting with his mother, Dorssen devoted every hour of his days to training. He needed to clear his head. All he could think of were his mother’s words—and Iris’s. He was in torment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a result, he became alienated from Prince Edward and Yuri. After graduation, he joined the knights as a squire, just as he had planned. He sparred with the other knights, and every day was more fulfilling than the last. He’d always longed to join their order. The knighthood was everything to him, and since his values had wavered, he was even more attached to the idea of becoming one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon enough, the knighthood became his entire world.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "During that time, General Gazell’s two apprentices started coming to participate in joint drills between the knights and the army. The apprentices of General Gazell—the living hero. Dorssen had been jealous of them, though no more so than everyone else around him. The general’s chosen apprentices were the envy of every soldier and knight alike.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, Dorssen had trained for the knighthood ever since his boyhood, so he was more than confident in his skills. Moreover, he was unbelievably proud to have at last joined the order. Yet he just couldn’t find it in himself to blithely accept the general’s apprentices. So he challenged them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t know how much pride you take in being a knight. But I don’t consider you one.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With those words, Dida had handed Dorssen an overwhelming defeat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen was frustrated, and he even despaired, much to his chagrin. What had he worked so hard for? Dida’s words had been the terrible echo of his mother’s. He began to fear that he had wasted his time aspiring to be a knight.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? You wanna know about Lyle and Dida?” one of his superiors asked, though he looked surprised. “Why don’t you ask ’em yourself? Just say, ‘Please tell me more about yourselves!’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I don’t think so…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I can’t blame you, after that fight. You left the worst first impression,” the knight chuckled. “Well? What do you wanna know about them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want to know why they haven’t come to the capital to enlist. They would be welcomed into the ranks of the knights or the soldiers. So why haven’t they?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t you remember what they said? They’ve devoted their swords to the mistress who saved them. Their loyalty to her is greater than their own pride. Seems to me they’re truer knights than we are. Oh—right, their mistress is Duke Armelia’s daughter, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? She’s their mistress?” Dorssen asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The knight frowned. “You don’t seem happy to hear that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, it’s just that…I kept wondering who it was they served. I never would have guessed it was Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You went to school with her, didn’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. …What do you think of her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t ask me. I’ve never spoken with her beyond a hello. You know her better.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The things people say about her…are unflattering.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know that much. You must be talking about the incident that led to her expulsion. My family’s of the nobility, too, you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you know, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s it, though, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…” Dorssen paused. Wasn’t her expulsion proof enough?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“People are more complicated than they seem. They show different sides of themselves, depending on the time and place.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t that a bit deceptive?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is it? Let me ask you this—are you the same at home as you are when you’re here with us?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know I’m not. That’s why I can’t say what kind of person she is. Haven’t been around her enough. I’m not saying I’d just ignore the things I’ve heard about her. But on one hand, you’ve got the evil villainess who harassed the daughter of a baron, and on the other, you’ve got the benevolent mistress who saved Lyle and Dida, to whom they feel so indebted that they’ve devoted their lives to her. Which one’s the truth? What kind of person do you think she is?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, Dorssen couldn’t answer. He’d never been around Iris long enough to share stories about her. Everything he knew about her was something he’d heard from someone else. He had based his entire opinion on hearsay. “I…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was as far as he got. The knight frowned at him and shrugged.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen kept thinking about it. He thought of his father’s words, and his mother’s, and the knight’s. No matter how much he thought, he kept coming to the same conclusion: that as a man, he had done nothing wrong. He still couldn’t forgive Iris for what she had done, and he had no intentions of doing so. At the same time, he had come to think he might have done the wrong thing as a knight.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was incontrovertibly true that he had humiliated Iris and disrespected her in public. He believed he should apologize to her for that. He tried to meet with her to do so, but no matter how many times he requested a meeting, he was turned away. He even began to approach the Armelia mansion in the capital, but they never let him past the gate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He asked his friend for advice again, to which the man responded, “Are you stupid or something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They were at the tavern in town. It wasn’t really the kind of place two nobles would go, but due to General Gazell’s influence, they’d taken to visiting the establishment for a drink after work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me ask you this: What if Lady Iris said, ‘I don’t feel bad about what I did, but I apologize for responding inappropriately as the daughter of a duke.’ What would you do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…I don’t know. I just want to settle things.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Settle things? Obviously, she’s gonna be suspicious if you start coming around suddenly, saying you want to see her. Hell, is your apology even sincere? Anyway, if you think she’s got the time to listen to you, you’re crazy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do mean it, though. I feel terrible about my behavior. It was unbecoming of a knight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s it, though. Remember what I asked you? About how you’d feel if the situation were reversed? How would you feel?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen wasn’t sure how to answer, though he wanted to. When he thought of Yuri’s suffering, he just couldn’t forgive Iris for what she’d done. He would think any apology empty and meaningless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His expression said it all to his friend, who nodded. “See? You wouldn’t really mean your apology. Your heart’s not in it. If you try to apologize and it’s not real, they’re gonna know it.” Then the knight’s face grew serious. “Anyway, apologizing might feel good because then you feel like it’s all over, but it doesn’t feel that way for the person you wronged. They have to decide whether they’re going to forgive you, and if you get another chance. So are you going to be selfish? You going to let your own feelings cause her even more pain?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wouldn’t be easy to settle this, not at all. At least, that was what Dorssen felt his friend was trying to say. The other knight seemed to think that Dorssen’s desire to apologize was presumptuous in itself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then what should I do?” Dorssen asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t look at me. What do you want to do? I keep asking you that. Because from here, it seems like you just want to make yourself feel better by offering her empty words—and not even because you feel bad, but because you’re getting swept up in what everyone else says. You need to think about it yourself. Think deeper and with a more open mind. What do you want to do? What can you do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They drank for a little longer after that and then went their separate ways.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once Dorssen got home, he kept replaying the conversation with his friend in his mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He thought about everything that had happened and everything that might happen. He thought about it over and over again, about what he’d done and about what he wanted to do. He thought and thought, but he couldn’t come to a conclusion, until finally…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want to learn more about her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was Dorssen’s resolution. He didn’t know anything about Iris, which meant he needed to learn. He wanted to know what she had really done and what she really wanted to do. So he took leave from the knights and embarked on a journey to learn the truth of this Iris Lana Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 11",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 15: The Duke's Daughter Makes Her Move",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 15:The Duke's Daughter Makes Her Move",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“MY LADY, Dorssen has entered Armelia,” Tanya told me one night with a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d been puzzled when Dean told me about Dorssen, but thanks to his warning, I was able to take the news calmly. “Keep an eye on him. If he acts in a remotely suspicious way, stop him immediately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why is he coming here now?” To be honest, all I wanted to do was arrest and deport him. “What about his work?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He took leave from the order.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So he’s just doing as he pleases? Honestly, what is Doruna thinking?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps he thought it wasn’t a good idea for him to remain with the knights? The knights are everything to Doruna, and he has utmost pride in and respect for them. Despite that pride, he seems to understand that Dorssen went too far. But Dorssen is his only son, so…perhaps he’s giving him one last chance before disinheriting him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s awfully generous…” I had to laugh. “Well, no matter. I won’t let him do as he pleases, that’s for sure.” I squeezed my hand into a fist.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How was your trip to town, by the way?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? What do you mean?!” The sudden change in subject flustered me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve just been in such a good mood since you came back, is all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh! Um, yes…” Tanya was wildly perceptive, and the accuracy of her insight took me off guard. I definitely overreacted. Ack. “I…am very happy. I feel most fortunate.” That was all I could think to say.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see.” Tanya smiled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More importantly…” I said abruptly. The topic of going into town had reminded me of something. “Let’s say you made a terrible mistake. Something truly bad that you couldn’t take back. What if you found yourself about to be in the same position as when you had made that mistake the first time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a difficult question,” Tanya said with a frown. “Does finding myself in the same position mean I’m guaranteed to make the same mistake?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t know. But—just imagine that it was the worst mistake ever.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose I can’t say I’d have to try and see.” Tanya closed her eyes. She was taking this seriously. After a moment of silence, she said, “I suppose I would think of the things I would stand to gain and the things I might lose. If the matter wasn’t too important, then I’d try to find a way to avoid it wholesale. If I was reluctant to do so, that would mean there was something about this position—something beyond the mistake—that was hard for me to let go of. A hope I couldn’t abandon. So I would try to have it both ways. A mistake means I took a risk—that I might have gained something, even if I lost it the first time. If I avoid the decision entirely, then I guarantee that I lose that thing—and I might even lose something I already have.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hope you can’t abandon…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. This is only a hypothetical, but I believe I understand what you’re trying to say. If you found yourself in a similar position, I would support you in whatever decision you made. We would continue to push our way forward, and everyone else would do the same. We all have our own way of doing things, and even if we don’t entirely agree with a choice you make, we still support you. And if you find yourself trapped, not knowing what to do, please think of us—and use us. Does that answer satisfy you, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, more than enough. Thank you. …But I’m exhausted, so I think I’ll retire for the night.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya helped me get ready for sleep. Once she left, I got out of bed and walked to the balcony. It was unbecoming of me, as I wore only my thin nightgown, but no one would see me in the dark.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I looked up at the night sky and then toward the town. The dark worked against me as well; I couldn’t see much. With electricity yet undiscovered in this world, the nights were very dark. At the same time, I found it comforting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hope you can’t abandon… Ridiculous.” I gritted my teeth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore, but thankfully, I didn’t need to worry that anyone would see me cry out here. My whispers faded into the darkness. I just kept crying, more and more. Even though I was clenching my teeth, stifled sobs leaked out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t mocking Tanya’s words. In fact, I felt not the least bit of spite for them. She had skewered me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was indeed a hope buried deep in my heart that I couldn’t abandon. I was ridiculous.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d endured so much pain, so I’d locked those feelings away. Yet here, they’d surfaced again so easily. I was so fragile. Now I knew that, even though I’d tried to deny it. I gave myself every excuse and lied to myself at every opportunity. But the truth was obvious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Why did I rely on him so much? Why had I let him see so much of me? Why did I allow him to see my pain, even when I hid my emotions from others? Why had I felt such jealousy?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My heart knew the answer to all those questions, but I had refused to let my brain accept it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I clutched the pocket watch he’d given me. It was nothing but a hazy outline in the darkness. Only the cold of it in my hands let me know that it was in fact there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t make the same mistake. I couldn’t afford to lose.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t lose the people who followed me, or Armelia, or the citizens who lived there. They were all too precious to risk—and I was too frightened to remember the despair I’d experienced when I’d last been betrayed, and too afraid of being foolish enough to expose myself again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t want that. I didn’t want this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Why did that dreadful uncertainty, invisible and intangible, against which I had been so powerless, have to come over me again? Why were these feelings so intense, so overwhelming? I was terrified.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I love you.” My heart dropped when I said the words aloud. Words I could never say in front of him—because nothing could ever come of them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Love that surpassed social status was a fairy tale. Although, even Cinderella was an aristocrat. And Yuri was the daughter of a baron.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So I couldn’t tell him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t abandon the things that were precious to me. Therefore, I had to lie to my heart. I had to turn my back on all this. Come morning, I would wake up and I’d return to the world with a smile on my face.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The numbers don’t add up. If you compare them to the last report, exports and imports…have decreased.” I bit my lip in concern as I pointed out the discrepancies. “I wonder why? It’s not everyday goods; it’s the luxury imports. And they’ve only decreased in the eastern region of Armelia.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re very perceptive,” the Bursa official said, eyes widening.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hate to admit it, but I didn’t notice until Dean pointed it out, actually,” I said with a chuckle. “What did you think? Did you assume I wouldn’t catch it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is this a test?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know. I’m just curious. I like to know what my employees think of me. Speaking of Dean, I thought he was writing a report on this. Do you know what’s going on with that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It hasn’t come in yet. Dean is investigating the cause of the discrepancy and sent someone east to check on things. As to your question—I was sure you would see it. Dean said so too, when he handed me the documents.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah! So Dean was testing me!” I laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you angry?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, it’s amusing. But I really do wonder why this is happening. It isn’t like the population has dropped off. And demand hasn’t gone down either. The prices are still high across the board. This isn’t happening anywhere else but in that region. Could it be that someone’s manipulating the supply chain?” I mused as I flipped through the documents.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Bursa official watched me as I did, waiting for his next instructions. I thanked him for the report, and he took his leave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Call Sebastian,” I said to Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as Sebastian arrived, I gave him my orders. I wanted everything he had on the situation in the east. That was where Armelia’s main port lay, so it was a wealthy and busy region. It had only grown more so since I’d become acting governor, especially as we were putting more effort into developing relationships with other countries.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Revenue from the east was integral to Armelia’s ongoing financial health; I had to get to the bottom of this. I wouldn’t feel at ease until I did. At present, the situation was only affecting one type of good, but there was no guarantee that the problem wouldn’t spiral into other areas.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean, I just received the reports. How are things progressing?” I asked when he arrived as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Honestly, there’s nothing new to say. I sent people to investigate the situation, and I’m waiting for news. One thing has been bothering me, however.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is it that there doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary besides the numerical discrepancy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. It’s too quiet out there. No reports of a ship sinking, no rogue companies. No complaints from the businesses producing the goods. Even though someone, somewhere should be suffering because of the dip in profits, we’ve heard nothing. It’s strange.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If only we could dismiss this. But I have a bad feeling about it. How long did you say you could stay this time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My original contract expires tomorrow. I have an appointment I must keep, so I’ll be away from Armelia for about a week, but I can come back as soon as I’m done. Sebastian can take over in my absence, along with the official from Bursa who was just here—the fellow who brought the reports.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right… I suppose it can’t be helped.” If I were being honest, I would’ve felt much better if Dean could have stuck around. But it wasn’t good to rely on him so much. “All right. If you think of anything new or something changes, let me know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I headed to the library next. I was grateful we had discovered this issue while Dean was still here. I’d had so much work piled up before his arrival that I wouldn’t have been able to respond to it promptly. I might not even have noticed it without him. Thanks to him, I’d finished the backlog, but he’d spotted this issue in the first place—then run it by the official who’d come to me with the report. Either way, I was grateful to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I arrived at the library and entered. “Oh, Rehme! It’s been a while since I saw you here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris!” Rehme greeted me with a bright smile. She was my librarian, but the academy in Armelia was keeping her busy with requests, so lately, she hadn’t spent as much time at the estate as usual. To be fair, I barely had time to go to our library myself, so it really had been a long time since I’d seen her in her usual habitat, surrounded by books.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What brings you here, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just doing some research about eastern Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What exactly are you looking for? Cuisine? Oh, how about maps?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m looking for historical records, like a list of the mayors of the port town. Criminal records too, that sort of thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Here’s information on the mayors. It hasn’t been bound into a book, so it’s quite fragile. Please be careful with it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, thank you.” I took the packet of papers from Rehme.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And here are the criminal records. There’s not much to them, actually. The vast majority of it gets covered up, I expect.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? I suppose I heard that before we had a standing police force, crimes weren’t recorded except for major incidents, which is understandable. What do you mean by covered up, though?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Eastern Armelia has always attracted hotheads, what with its port. Fights and brawls are daily occurrences. Not to mention, the Boltik family controls things, so anything really big gets swept under the rug, and we don’t hear about it out here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Boltik family? Who’s that?” I’d never heard of them before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To put it simply, an organization that controls the underworld. Do you remember when Dida stopped you from walking down that alleyway? The sort of people you would have met there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. If I had Tanya investigate their recent activities, do you think we’d be able to discern whether anything had changed for them recently?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, the family dates back a very long time. Probably since the duchy was established and the port was built. They have their own way of doing things, and even though they commit some…indiscretions, the citizens don’t seem to dislike them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Illegal activities. Not slavery, though. They do have people guarding their operations—likely gambling, for the most part.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. If they employ guards, then you’re probably right—they resolve conflicts before we ever hear of them. And what sense does it make to record an event if it’s settled before anyone uninvolved ever learns it happened?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Something like that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You sure know a lot, Rehme.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve gathered a handful of records on the various heads of the family throughout the years. It’s all quite interesting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. It would be dangerous to investigate someone like that on your own, wouldn’t it? Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had a feeling it was going to take a great deal of effort to get to the bottom of this. It would have been different if I’d read anything about it before, but even now that I had the material, it would be no mean feat to get through it all. It made me incredibly grateful to have Rehme at my disposal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are there other organizations like the Boltiks?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, several. Although I don’t know how many are still around, especially after some went toe to toe against the Boltik family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, then… Thank you.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Late at night, Dida spotted a certain someone leaving the mansion. “Wait, Tanya.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Dida? I’m busy.” Tanya glared at him, but his usual carefree smile remained fixed on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know. Princess told you to go investigate out east, right? And you’ve gotta do that on top of keeping an eye on the spoiled rich boy. Must be rough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you know I’m busy, then let me go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t have to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m coming with. You know what they say, every man knows his own business best. Guess I’m headed to my old stomping grounds.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida’s words reminded Tanya of his experiences. Iris had adopted him while she was on a trip in the east with her family. At the time, Tanya had been apprenticed as a maid, so she had stayed behind at the estate. She didn’t know the particulars of the trip, only that Dida was from the east and that he had belonged to a criminal organization during that time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t you have your own work to do?” she asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve got a very talented partner. And anyway, I have apprentices now. Plenty of people to pick up the slack.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, you can’t. I’m looking into your old acquaintances, and they might recognize you. It’s too dangerous.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, now. You know I can take care of myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m aware. You don’t have to remind me. But why? Why do you want to come?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because I’ll do anything to help Princess. And like I said, I know the lay of the land.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya stared at Dida, trying to discern his motives. He just stared back at her, smiling. But the look in his eyes was deadly serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s say I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he said. “That’s why I want to go myself and see what’s really happening. And if I can settle some things at the same time, then good.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you really think I’d let you come after hearing that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Like I said, I can handle it. …Which is to say, sorry about this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was when Tanya felt the impact. She chastised herself for letting her guard down as her consciousness slipped away. The last thing she saw was the culprit’s face and the apology in his gaze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next time she opened her eyes, she was for a moment confused. She saw the ceiling of her room, just like she always did upon waking. But none of that had been a dream. She was still wearing the clothes she’d had on when she left the house. She rose and rushed to Iris’s room to inform her of what had happened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida took over the investigation?” Iris looked surprised. “I know I shouldn’t worry about him, but I’m afraid he’ll do something rash… But Lyle’s the only person who could bring him back, and we can’t spare the number of people we’d need to cover for him. Honestly…I’m grateful Dida’s chosen this. Why don’t we just wait and see what happens?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya couldn’t bring herself to speak out against Iris’s judgment. “Very well, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She suppressed the unpleasant feeling smoldering within her and returned to her work.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen had arrived in Armelia. He was genuinely surprised to see that its capital was as fine and boisterous as the royal capital itself. In fact, he’d been nothing but surprised since he entered the duchy. A long line of people had been waiting to gain entrance into Armelia. Once Dorssen passed through the gates, he had been continually impressed by the well-maintained roads and other orderly affairs.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other domains, city roads were well maintained, but farther afield, the roads were often neglected. In Armelia, every road between every settlement was exceptionally well taken care of, which made travel across the domain incredibly easy. Furthermore, outposts housing soldiers from Armelia’s ducal army were stationed at intermittent points along the roads, and regular patrols ensured the safety of all travelers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen found himself thinking, No wonder so many prime ministers have hailed from Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as he reached the duchy’s capital, he booked a room at an inn and wandered the town for a while. He grew curious when he noticed a steady stream of people entering a large building.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me. What’s in that shop there?” he asked a man passing by.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shop? Are you a tourist?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You could say that…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a branch of our academy. The elementary school, to be exact. All the children of Armelia learn how to read and write there, free of charge. Mathematics as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s…that’s amazing.” It was indeed amazing, but, Dorssen wondered, was it necessary? Reading, writing, and arithmetic only seemed like relevant skills to the children of aristocrats or merchants. What use would an ordinary citizen have for such things?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It is!” the passerby exclaimed. He seemed delighted by the opportunity to tell an out-of-towner all the exciting things about the school. “It’s a new program that started after Lady Iris became the acting governor. She says ‘knowledge is power,’ and everyone deserves to be able to stand on their own two legs—make a living for themselves, you know? At first, I thought it was crazy, but once you really start learning, it hits you. Knowledge opens up more possibilities for your future. You can get a better job, for instance, and you can use these things in your daily life, too!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris… The duke’s daughter is the acting governor?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed she is. After she took office, she built us more hospitals, reformed our tax system, and all sorts of things that have made our lives a damn sight easier.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen had not known about Iris’s responsibilities—not in the least. “Do you go to that academy, too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure do. At the moment, I’m studying to enter their branch for higher education.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen thanked the man and started talking to other passersby as well. No one seemed particularly displeased with the fact that a woman was running the duchy. In fact, they seemed to think it was perfectly natural. Everything they had to say about Iris was positive, and some even gushed about her like the first man he’d spoken to. She seemed to be beloved by her citizens, and it didn’t take Dorssen long to be sure this was the case.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In fact, she was so popular that a dark feeling began to congeal within his heart. They spoke of Iris as if she were some kind of saint, but this same woman had abused Yuri. How could they idolize her like this?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen was speaking to the owner of a restaurant, a man who’d given yet another glowing review of Iris, when he snapped. “Excuse me,” he said. “I realize that Lady Iris has done a number of things for Armelia, but why does everyone love her so much?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a strange question. She always acts in our best interests, and she truly cares about us. How could we not love someone like that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but haven’t you heard about how when she lived in the capital, she abused our future queen? They expelled her from the academy for it. How could you believe someone like that cares about you and your livelihood? Are you sure she’s really behind all this? Isn’t it more likely that it’s the people working for her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The shop owner burst out laughing. “That whole business? I’m sure it was a misunderstanding. Probably another setup like when the church excommunicated her over a false accusation. No, we feel extremely fortunate to have her as our governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How can you trust her so?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Listen, it doesn’t matter what you say. I’ve seen what she can do. She works her tail off for Armelia, and she visits the orphanage even though she’s so busy—matter of fact, she comes and visits everyone in town. I don’t think anyone cares more about us than she does, that’s for sure!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about you? What do you know about her? I think you’d better watch what you say. The people here adore their Lady Iris. They won’t take well to hearing anyone badmouth her. Look around. You’ve got some glares on you, my friend.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen looked over his shoulder and realized the man was right; several of the other patrons were staring at him, and not in a friendly way. They glared with something that very closely resembled malice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You just be careful,” the owner said before walking away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Iris truly was loved by her citizens. Had she had a change of heart after her expulsion or something?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen paid his bill and left the restaurant. Even though the sun had gone down, people were still milling about the town. That indicated that they felt safe doing so. Between this and everything else he’d seen and heard, Dorssen was actually starting to wonder if Iris really had abused Yuri.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He quickly shoved that thought out of his mind. He couldn’t doubt Yuri, after all. There was no way she would lie. In fact, it was a good thing that she’d spoken up—the whole incident had no doubt caused this change in Iris’s character.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dorssen returned to his room at the inn and stared absently at the view from his window while he drank some ale. Why had he come here to begin with? To learn more about Iris, yes, but what had he planned on doing with that information once he got it? Honestly, he didn’t know what he wanted anymore. Did he still want to settle things?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If so, why did he want that? It had occurred to him that he might have gotten carried away. His father and mother had placed so much blame upon him, so of course he had wanted to fix things between himself and the woman who was now the queen dowager’s favorite. But he had only wanted to do so for the sake of appearances. He had wanted to excuse his behavior, to be able to say, “I apologized. I settled it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you want to do? I keep asking you that. Because from here, it seems to me like you just want to make yourself feel better by offering her empty words—and not even because you feel bad, but because you’re getting swept up in what everyone else says. You need to think about it yourself. Think deeper and with a more open mind. What do you want to do? What can you do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His friend’s advice kept circling through his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His friend was right. Dorssen hadn’t thought about Iris at all, even though she was the one to whom he owed an apology.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What was an apology? What did it mean to ‘settle things’? Dorssen let out a deep sigh and looked away from the window. His mug had been empty for a while now. He headed downstairs, ready to order another drink from the bar on the first floor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Every other inn in town was full, and Dorssen had secured the last room. The bar was overflowing with people.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You traveling alone?” a man asked just as Dorssen was about to place an order.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, that’s right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you come here to shop? Doesn’t look like it. Got a girl here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not quite. What about you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Me? I came for the goods, but unfortunately…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you run into some kind of trouble?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They ran out of what I was looking for. It was an import. Seems there’s some kind of trouble in the east.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, some ruffians called the Boltik family are throwing their weight around. It’s grown too dangerous to even travel out that way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s the government doing about it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The governor’s mobilizing the armed forces. I’m sure they’ll resolve it pretty soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are Armelia’s soldiers that powerful?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure are. Not even the knights in the capital would stand a chance against them!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t glare at me like that. It’s just a hypothetical. You know a knight or something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, sorry. I just admire them, is all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I see. Sorry about that. Well, why don’t you go and see them in action for yourself? If you admire the knights, I bet you’d learn a lot watching the Armelia’s soldiers. You look strong enough to protect yourself out east anyway.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wonder if Dida’s going,” Dorssen murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man didn’t hear him and gave him a questioning look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, it’s nothing,” said Dorssen. “Is the east usually better-traveled?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure is. It’s real important for our trade. Rumor has it that it was the first place Lady Iris visited when she became acting governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Interesting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s also the most popular tourist destination in the duchy. If you came here on a vacation, I’d recommend them or the south! Then you’ll really be able to see how much progress Lady Iris has made here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Thanks for the info.” Dorssen returned to his room, thinking. “The east, huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe it would do him some good to continue traveling Armelia. Retrace Iris’s footsteps, as it were. He downed his second mug of ale and went straight to bed.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have you heard anything from Dida?” I asked. It had been two weeks since he left, but he’d sent no word so far as I knew. With every day that passed, another old worry resurfaced.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No,” said Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… What about from our other investigation party?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They said that conditions in the port town are deteriorating. If we haven’t heard anything directly, that means the residents are afraid to speak out against the Boltik family. They could also be colluding with the local officials.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. What exactly does the Boltik family want in this situation? Are they angling for a direct fight with me? I mean, House Armelia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think that’s unlikely. Their current boss has been the head of the family for some time, and it’s hard to believe he’d move against us so suddenly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true. Might it be possible that someone is impersonating the Boltik family…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady…” Tanya frowned. “There’s something else.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve heard Dorssen has set out on a journey eastward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He left town this morning. I thought he was returning home, but he headed in the other direction, toward the east. I didn’t believe it, at first, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why would he go there now, of all times? I thought he came to Armelia to talk to me, didn’t he?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It honestly doesn’t make sense. But for now, here’s a list of the people he sought out in town.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took the paper from Tanya and looked it over. No suspicious names jumped out. But…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Look into this merchant’s activities one more time. And put more eyes on Van.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“On Van?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, please. I don’t trust Dorssen’s decision to go east—it can’t be coincidence. Perhaps he hopes to negotiate with some individuals out there. It would be too early for him to act, either way. But we can’t assume he’s come for a good reason. Go check with Father Rafiel as well—and if you’ve time, investigate the behavior of our local aristocracy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, there was a knock at the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean.” I smiled. “You have impeccable timing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive me, my responsibilities ran a bit long and I’ve returned later than I anticipated.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I filled him in on the situation, and his face grew grave as I described it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“While I was away, I heard some suspicious rumors,” he said. “They say one of your trusted people is in truth a ruffian—that he’s trying to extort money from the citizenry. Other rumors say that a former classmate of yours, one who joined the knights, is trying to rectify the situation. That’s most of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Where did these rumors start?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m looking into it now. I thought perhaps some noble was saying things to get a rise out of you, but if that were the case, it would be strange for word to be circulating among the townspeople.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, Dida…” Tanya had been listening quietly the entire time, but now she spoke up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head. “I trust Dida. Or at least…I want to. More than anything, I’m genuinely worried about him. I think we should take care of this before it grows any bigger.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I needed to determine my next steps. I told Tanya to summon Sebastian.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I help you, my lady?” he asked when he arrived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sebastian, I’m going to be away for about a week. I’ll leave my business in your care until I return.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties.” Sebastian frowned a bit at my order, but he nevertheless bowed his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, are you…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed I am. I’m going east. Luckily, I don’t have much of a backlog, so Sebastian can take the reins for now.” I smiled. “Honestly, I’ve overworked myself to the point of exhaustion. I must recuperate. Sebastian will look after things in my stead. Do you understand what I mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes,” said Tanya. “And you won’t set foot out of the estate while you’re resting. Is that correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But, my lady, why are you going to the east?” Sebastian asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First of all, I’d like us to establish the town hall of the port city as a base of operations. I’ll leverage my station to do what we can, but before that, I want to confirm the situation with my own eyes. Second, I want to observe the Boltik family for myself—to see what they’re all about. Finally, I need to deal with our spoiled little knight. If push comes to shove, I’ll approach him myself, but I’d like to resolve the matter without drawing attention. I’ll be bringing Dean and Lyle as my escorts. Tanya will join us after she’s assigned more spies to watch Van.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.” Both Dean and Tanya bowed their heads.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean? Go tell Lyle, would you? We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 12",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 16: The Duke's Daughter Heads into Danger",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 16:The Duke's Daughter Heads into Danger",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "THUS, WE SET OFF for the east—not in a carriage but on horseback. It was faster that way. Whether because this trip wasn’t as grueling as the one to the capital or because I’d grown more used to that mode of transportation, I was in far less rear-related pain by the end of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wore a disguise, of course. The people in town hadn’t recognized me when I’d gone incognito there, so I had Tanya do that same makeup on me again. Lyle was disguised this time as well. He wasn’t wearing makeup, but he dyed his hair and wore glasses, and he shed his usual armor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We reached the port city in the east a day later, stopping only to change horses. It was around late afternoon, and the sun hadn’t yet set. We could only stay for a week, so we had to act quickly. First, Lyle and I booked a room at an inn, and then I went to observe the town hall. Before I did that, I sent Dean out to gather information in town on a number of specific subjects.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“At a glance, it doesn’t seem like anything has changed since our last visit. The only difference is that the mood in the air feels a little heavier, perhaps?” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The town still seemed bright and cheerful, and the people were friendly, just like they had been—but an odd weight was layered over their every action.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I feel like someone’s watching us, and they’ve got an icy glare… Is it malice?” Lyle murmured, cautiously looking around.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We couldn’t do anything with a feeling, so we headed toward the largest building in town, the town hall. There was a reception window as soon as you walked in. The receptionists answered various requests and handled forms, just as they did in any other Armelian town. There were quite a lot of citizens in the hall, and all the staff members seemed busy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I help you?” a woman asked me. She wore a uniform and a name tag, which indicated she was a staff member.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle stepped between us. “I’m thinking of moving to town, and the merchant guild told me that I should check to see what kind of paperwork I’d need to fill out.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Certainly. Here’s a number. Please wait your turn and then bring the number back with you when I call it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She showed us to a waiting room where we sat down. We’d decided on our story before we came, so we were prepared to stick to it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said when she returned and guided us to her desk. “Please, have a seat.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle answered all the woman’s questions according to our plan, and everything was going smoothly, by the book. He seemed to be making a good impression on the woman.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have any other questions?” she asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard some rumors on the way that things have been less safe here recently. Is that true?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…” She frowned, seeming reluctant to say. “Honestly…and this is embarrassing, but the rumors are true. In short, some…organizations are competing with each other, and it’s impacted the town as a whole.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But don’t worry. In Armelia, as you know, we have a garrison of soldiers assigned to each district. They have already been notified, and I’m sure they’ll take care of it soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? So you sent a report to the garrison?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite a while ago. They’re in the middle of dealing with another incident and can’t come quite yet, but I’m sure they’ll be here soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that’s reassuring. Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We left and went straight back to the inn.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even a town hall receptionist knows what’s going on,” Lyle muttered. “She said they’d already notified the local garrison, but do you remember seeing a notice?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, not at all,” I said. “And something of this magnitude would’ve been brought to my attention.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I haven’t heard anything from the garrison either. Something this important definitely should have gone to you before they responded.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t want to doubt our own men, but…I think I’d better go take a look into the local armed forces.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a good idea. Now we need to wait on Dean’s report.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that moment, Tanya entered the room—perfect timing, as usual. “I’m sorry I took so long, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad you’re here, Tanya. Is everything all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good. Tanya, is it possible to change my appearance even more?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I figured you might say that, so I brought a wig from the Azuta Corporation. I can change your makeup as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wonderful. I’m going undercover at the town hall tomorrow.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, Dean got back, too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well? How was it?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t say anything for certain. But…something felt off.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Off?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. There are discrepancies between the accounts we’ve heard of the Boltik family’s activities and the things I’ve actually witnessed here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you see something today?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I believe so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And? What are they up to?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The Boltiks run a company that deals with imports from other countries. It seems they’re withholding the products from the general market and only selling them for higher than market value.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, I see. And if we don’t do something about it, the citizens will start to distrust us. Dida heard some citizens theorize that we’re trying to steal profits. That might be just what the Boltik family wants them to think.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s possible they had this planned for a while and started those rumors on purpose—and they took advantage of my excommunication to drive distrust.” I sighed. “If Dorssen digs into this, that will only mean more problems for us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, let’s use Tanya’s skills and have her look into this immediately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can you do that, Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean, will you come to the town hall with me tomorrow, like we planned?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Absolutely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so ended our first day in the east.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day, Dean and I went to the town hall masquerading as students on the government track of Armelia’s academy. We had established a program in the Armelian capital that sent these students out to gain work experience, and we operated under that cover story.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Town halls and other such offices are always short-staffed, and the program gave the students a taste of what their future occupations would be like—especially as there was a good chance most of them would end up working at a town hall.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We introduced ourselves as students who had come to act as interns. I’d already notified the academy of our cover story, just in case someone wanted to do a background check. I felt bad knowing that we were taking away important experience from actual students, so I’d promised the academy that I would do everything I could to get the students who’d originally applied here the positions they wanted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Putting that aside, I wore a completely different disguise that day. I wore glasses again and a wig that was so black it almost looked blue. Many people had dark hair in eastern Armelia, so I didn’t stand out at all. In fact, since this was a port town, there were people of every appearance and hair color that you could imagine.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean was also disguised, and the two of us walked through the town hall totally incognito. Our prior arrangements ensured we were welcomed in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately, as students, we couldn’t pick the tasks we were assigned to, so Dean and I were separated. There was nothing to be done about that. Actually, I had grown so accustomed to being the one giving out orders that it felt refreshing to receive instructions from someone else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I delivered documents throughout the building and did simple calculations. None of it was especially complicated, so I finished quickly and had a healthy chunk of spare time on my hands. I enjoyed listening to the staff talk about things I never would have heard during the trip I’d taken to the port as the governor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Alice—you don’t have to do that, dear.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d like to learn everything I can while I’m here. Please, allow me.” I smiled at the staff member.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was taking out the trash. It wasn’t garbage, though, but documents meant to be burned. This town hall had a rule that papers that had served their purpose were to be burned before the end of the day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took the papers out to the charcoal stove—though of course I read every document before burning it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Bingo, I thought with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d found documents that hadn’t actually been properly recorded—statements from citizens, et cetera. These were what I had been after. I’d separated the trash I collected from every individual waste bin, so I knew exactly who had thrown out what. To be precise, I knew who had wanted these documents burned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was relieved to have results from the day’s work, but even more than that, I found myself glad to have spent invaluable time learning things about the experience that I might not otherwise have been able to.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the end of the day, I met up with Dean and we exchanged information, then returned to the inn to tell the others.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya, I want you to look into this person. There’s a good chance they’re involved in this operation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, thank you. How about you, Dean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I found two others besides the one you indicated. I made a few observations, but I don’t think they’re directly involved with this matter, so I’ll write a report on it later. What made you single out this individual?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I told him about the documents, and Tanya looked at me with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You took out the garbage, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was my suggestion. I had to—I thought I might be able to find some clues.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose that’s true. This person didn’t come up in my investigation. At any rate, I will look into all three people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course,” she said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about you, Tanya?” I asked. “Did you find out anything today?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I did. It seems the Boltik family isn’t actually behind this operation. I suppose it would be more accurate to say that they are involved, but they’re not the masterminds.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why do you think that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Everything I’ve found about the Boltiks suggests that they wouldn’t design an operation like this. It doesn’t fit their pattern. I also looked into some people whom Dean said were claiming to be in the family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But you found no record of them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Exactly. They belong to a rival gang.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They did communicate with someone who actually belongs to the Boltiks. His name is Emilio, and he’s the second in command—so the Boltiks are somewhat involved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now the question is whether the Boltik family approved this, or if Emilio went rogue?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think the latter is more likely. Only certain members of the family have shown up in our investigations.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right. Have you found anything regarding Dida?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…” Tanya hesitated, which was rare for her. I urged her to continue. “I have no idea where he is or what he’s doing. I can only surmise, from our last conversation, that he might have been part of the gang whose ringleader is masterminding this operation. In short, he’s probably already aware of the information we’ve been working to gather.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shall we mobilize the garrison?” Tanya asked, but I shook my head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, we can’t. Lyle’s looking into it, but until his report, I can’t be sure if they’re trustworthy. So if we brought them in…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It might only make things worse?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Precisely. It’s one thing if Dida has been captured, and that’s clearly the situation once the authorities intervene. But what if he hasn’t been captured because he’s infiltrating their operation? Or what if they’ve caught him, but they’re keeping him hostage as insurance? It will still look like he’s in on it. If I can’t predict how the local soldiers will react…it might be hard for us to cover for him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me for overstepping.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not at all. You’re right. We need to make a move either way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, do you mind if I take my leave for a moment?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wouldn’t mind, but what do you intend to do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d like to meet up with Lyle. If he has to keep an eye on the garrison, he might not be able to come back soon, and I’d like his report sooner rather than later. He also asked me to let him know if we learned anything important.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d thought she was going to ask to do something more closely related to Dida, so I was surprised, but I didn’t want to tell her no. “You have my permission.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I shall take over guarding Lady Iris,” Dean said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya had looked concerned about leaving me, but Dean’s words put her mind at ease. As she left, I wondered when she had grown to trust him so much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it’s a rival of the Boltik family? Hm…” I murmured. “That means the rumors are true. They’re after me…or perhaps they’re after Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think it’s more likely Dida,” said Dean. “If they directly targeted you, it would be difficult for them to survive in Armelia, even if they managed to overcome the Boltiks.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true. But the rumors still say it’s me they’re after… Mmm, I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think you’re on to something. They probably thought your excommunication was an opportunity. That’s why you increased security on Van—because you thought something like this might happen, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled wryly. “I don’t know what Emilio was thinking, working with his family’s rival, but it seems like he’s hiding behind the Boltik name, at least. The import goods they’re hoarding are likely hidden at the Boltiks’ base. I’m not sure whether the rest of the family would be on my side, though. According to the reports…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They probably don’t want to publicly antagonize House Armelia. If they knew about the situation, they’d want to get rid of the goods as soon as possible to keep the whole thing under wraps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wish they’d just make a move.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t think they’re hesitating because of the factional split?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, I see what you mean. Their own network is untrustworthy. Some of them may even want it to remain that way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Exactly. Their boss made a real mistake this time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean, would you bring me a map?” I took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm my nerves. “Ugh. Even if I don’t mobilize the garrison, Dorssen might make his move, and that will endanger Dida. It would be very knightly of him—and he takes such pride in his knighthood. Normally, no one would so aggressively poke their nose into the business of another domain, but if anyone would do it, it’d be him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The knights were meant to protect the royal family first, the capital second. That was the limit of their jurisdiction. So, if the son of an aristocrat serving as a knight interfered with the business of another duchy, it meant trouble for his house. Under normal circumstances, someone in that position would be compelled to abstain from taking action. That was where the Tasmerian military was supposed to come in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Dorssen would definitely interfere, especially if he hadn’t matured or otherwise changed since my expulsion. He’d act without even thinking of the consequences.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Here it is.” Dean handed me the map. At the same time, I gathered my calm and set aside my feelings. “Dean, you know where the Boltiks’ base is, don’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you say so?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just a hunch. Could you…” I started, but when I saw the look on his face grow tense, I shrugged. “I won’t say a thing. You could’ve learned anything at all in the course of this investigation. Moreover, your family are merchants, and you might very well have interacted with them in that capacity. But no matter the reason, I just…I have a feeling you know their leader. What was it you said—a real mistake this time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Like I said, it’s purely a hunch,” I laughed, drawing a tight smile from him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I heard you. I swear I have no true connection to the family, so I don’t know much about the structure of the organization.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re such a mysterious person,” I murmured as I studied him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think I can’t be trusted? Am I so suspicious?” he asked, glancing at me. It seemed like his eyes were searching for the answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Strangely, I don’t believe so. Perhaps that makes me a bad governor.” I chuckled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean knelt in front of me as I sat, so he could be at my eye level. We were closer now than before. He leaned in even closer, toward my face. My heart was pounding.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You are not a bad governor,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Please, I want you to use me. I’ll let you. I vowed to give you all of myself. Won’t I be useful?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, yes…that’s right. You did say that.” I giggled softly at the teasing tone he’d taken on at the end. “Very well, Dean. I want you to help me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, my lady. What do you wish me to do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want to see the boss of the Boltik family. Could we do that now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If we go straight to their headquarters, yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then take me there. I have to go as soon as possible. I have to save Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But my lady… You know well that the Boltiks are involved with all number of illicit activities. They’re a dangerous group to contact. Are you positive you want to do this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I do. Dida might be in danger, and Dorssen might be planning to make a move that will seal his fate. Should I hesitate? Should I do nothing?” I couldn’t waste this opportunity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That sounds like you,” Dean said with a soft smile. “Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, my lady. I will protect you from anyone. So please…entrust your body to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That last line got me—I knew he didn’t mean it in a romantic way. He was asking me to entrust my body to him for protection, to trust him with my life since we were walking into danger. Yet his words hit me square in the heart, and my mind blanked for a split second.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean…” I whispered. I want to give all of myself to you. My heart, my body. Everything—except my responsibilities.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t say it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Instead, I smiled. “Yes, Dean. I will.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, my lady. However…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let me change into something easier to move around in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He did so, as did I, and then we met back up downstairs to seek out the Boltik family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that the sun had gone down, a different sort of person was out and about in the town—especially when one happened to be in a back alley.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This way.” Dean pulled my hand, and we made to run.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who are you? Argh!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean grabbed the man standing in our way. Dida and Lyle had always made much of Dean’s strength, and it turned out that they hadn’t been exaggerating.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you want?” the man gasped.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We want to see Glaus,” said Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What the hell are you talking about? You think Glaus has time to meet with some young punk?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not for you to decide, is it? And all of you hiding over there—you can come out now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several men stepped out from the shadows.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean snorted. “What a nice welcoming party. So are you going to let us pass? Or…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Course we can’t let you pass!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Instantly, a fight broke out—but it didn’t take long for one side to claim victory. Even though he was vastly outnumbered, the clear winner was Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When he fought, he moved just like Lyle and Dida. He didn’t have the stiff, regimented maneuvers of the knights or those in the Armelian guard. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I suppose you could call it a refined sort of violence. It only took a few moments for him to best every single opponent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you all right?” he asked me, not even panting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I trust you,” I said, clutching his shirt. I meant it, too, from the bottom of my heart. Even so, my hand was trembling. I’d have been lying if I said I wasn’t frightened to go where we were going. Dean must have sensed that, because he squeezed my hand. His warmth melted my anxiety away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Have I grown since Dida stopped me from going into that alleyway?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. You’ve grown more vibrant. Both as the governor, and as a woman.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Smooth as ever. I wonder why hearing it from you gives me so much courage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s all right, my lady. There’s nothing for you to worry about. You can do this.” As Dean said that, he rested his forehead on mine. A strange sense of nostalgia washed over me, along with relief. I closed my eyes and squeezed his hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That feeling of relief filled my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s go, my lady.” Dean said, and we set off again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon, we reached a building that faced the sea. From the outside, it looked like any other building in the neighborhood. Dean hid me in the shadows and dashed toward the entrance. Once he dispatched the man guarding the gate, he returned to me, grabbed my hand, and brought me with him at a run.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Quickly, quietly, we made our way up the stairs. I’d assumed there would be a large number of people inside the headquarters, but there wasn’t. I didn’t see a single soul. Just as I wondered if we were really in the right place, we reached our destination. Dean paused in front of a door, twisted the knob, and forcefully pushed it open.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that exact moment, a sword came flying toward us, and I bit my lip to keep from screaming. Simultaneously, Dean blocked the sword with his own and struck it away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stop!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The second the man fell to the ground with a thud, a deep voice rang out. This room was vast and tall, and the sharp voice echoed within it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced over and saw several strong-looking men who had frozen in the middle of what they were doing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh. What a day.” Only one man was sitting, and he chuckled throatily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Long time no see, Glaus.” Dean said with a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So Dean did know him—and pretty well, it seemed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Long time no see,” said Glaus. Then his friendly attitude abruptly changed. “Looks like you’re still causing trouble everywhere you go. Can’t you rein it in?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not very nice. You’re talking like I’m always the one making problems.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Aren’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Trouble has a way of finding me. I just deal with it. I’m pretty sure you’re the one stirring things up lately, in any case.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Glaus’s expression tightened a mote. “How much do you know?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean’s gaze sharpened just as Glaus’s had. “Let’s just say I know enough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tell me everything you’ve got.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s rather presumptuous, isn’t it?” Dean snorted, and the men near us tensed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I said stop!” Glaus growled—to my surprise. He was keeping them in check. “They may not look it, but these guys are real beasts. They’re perfectly willing to get maimed or killed if that’s what it takes to protect me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s awful. Though I’m pretty sure I could take half of them at once, if it came to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That enraged two of the men, and they charged Dean. In no time, he had them flat on the ground. His movements were so fast, I honestly didn’t even see what he did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Vicious.” Glaus laughed. “You never change, Dean. You guys get it now, huh? My bad, my bad. What’ve you got?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not the one who’s come to talk to you. It’s her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A woman?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They all stared at me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took a step forward. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Iris Lana Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Armelia…” Glaus smirked. “The daughter of a duke. What are you doing here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want to make a deal, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Glaus laughed out loud. “Hilarious! A noble maiden, come to make a deal with me? Why don’t you run back home to Daddy’s mansion, sweetheart? If you leave now, you might make it in time for tea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, I’d love to. Unfortunately, you’ve all been such amateurs that I’ve had to come ensure things get done properly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Glaus’s smile vanished. A dark, intimidating aura rolled off of him. “You’d better watch your tongue. I don’t care how noble you are, or if you’ve got Dean standing in front of you—I don’t take kindly to that manner of talk.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was so frightened that I thought my knees would start knocking together—but I clenched my stomach, maintained my composure, and finally, I smiled. “It seems there’s a rumor that House Armelia has joined forces with your family to hoard imported goods and steal profits from the citizens. The people think this quite unfair. Hence why I’d like to resolve the matter as swiftly as possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I must have looked out of my mind, smiling in a place like that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, it’s not a big deal,” I went on. “If I act recklessly and die in so doing, all you have to say is that you had nothing to do with the matter from the start. Although, I have a feeling that if the daughter of a noble is murdered, both Armelia’s armed forces and the royal army will be mobilized in order to keep the peace. I suspect they’d decide you ought to take full responsibility for the incident. End of story. They wouldn’t care who the actual mastermind might be. Meanwhile, all I personally care about is taking care of this quickly and keeping my house’s name untarnished. Surely you can’t object to that, can you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Glaus scowled. “Can’t lay a hand on you when you put it like that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, then. I’ll get back to the point. I want this matter over and done with. I know you do, too. So, let’s work together. That’s the deal I want to make.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I got something to ask.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m well aware you’ve got the manpower to crush my family whenever you want. You didn’t have to come here all on your lonesome.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True enough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then why did you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If I destroyed your family, I’d hardly destroy all of your kind,” I said. “Moreover, the survivors would grow more cunning. They’d fight dirtier. Thus I’ve decided that although you’re troublesome, I’d rather keep you around. You run this town, do you not?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even if the Boltiks’ business was illicit, the citizens accepted them. They did in fact control the port. Case in point: I didn’t believe the town hall official who had been covering for the Boltik family had been directed to do so by Glaus or his men. Citizens in the dark were concerned, and they wondered what was going on—some more keenly than others. The testimony I’d burned had surprised me, as had the responses from the citizens in town. Numerous individuals suspected that whoever was behind this was impersonating the Boltik family. I now had reason to believe that they were correct.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Or are you unworthy of their trust?” I asked after I laid all this out. “If so, I’ll go ahead and call up my soldiers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Glaus laughed. The other men did, too. “You got me!” he crowed. “I wondered why you’d bring a girl round here to talk to me, Dean. Now I understand. She’s a good woman.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t she?” Dean said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My heart skipped a beat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can wrap the truth in all manner of pretty words, but we’re rogues, through and through. Even so, we’ve got our own set of rules—lines you can’t cross, no matter what. It would sully our names if we failed to live up to your expectations.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ll work with us, then?” I asked. “You’ll lend me your power?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We will. Although I have a feeling you’re going to be the one saving us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My negotiation was successful. I didn’t let it show on my face, but I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Now I had a connection with Glaus. It had all been worth it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But it wasn’t over yet. The real battle had just begun.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Show me the territory under your control.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Glaus nodded. One of the men standing by the wall came over to me with a map. “Here.” He pointed out several places.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I studied it and indicated a neighborhood. “Here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The sewers run under that street, and anyone who works with the town officials would have access to it. It would be an excellent location for storing goods, as well as a means of traveling unseen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And according to Tanya’s investigation, their base is right here.” I pointed to a specific location in the neighborhood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean seemed impressed. “What are you thinking? Go there now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Soon—first we need to get Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve told you where to find them,” I said to Glaus. “Now you just need to make your move.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hear you,” he said. “We’ll take care of it. But are you sure this is what you want?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I’d like you at the forefront of this operation. You’re more important to the locals than we are. In exchange, all I want is for you to rescue a man with brown hair; his name is Dida. Well, if you think you can pull this off, at least.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oho?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t go into this half-heartedly. If you try to protect your former allies, I won’t hesitate to bring in my soldiers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Glaus chuckled. “Sounds good to me. All right, boys, get ready to move!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At his call, his men leapt to action, preparing themselves to head out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll be going, then,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You do that. But come back and visit when all this is settled! I’d love to have a drink with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sounds lovely.” I nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, we bid Glaus farewell and made our way back to the main street.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We met up with Tanya immediately after that, and she was incensed. I couldn’t blame her. I did ask her to save the lectures for later, because we had places to be.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya also had news—Dorssen was with Dida. As expected, Dorssen had stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Things had actually turned out rather well for us. It seemed Dorssen had seen a man emerge from the sewers and grown suspicious—at which point he’d gone to investigate the matter himself. He’d stumbled on the true mastermind’s base as well as the place where Dida was being held captive.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen had really gone above and beyond what I’d thought him capable of. At least if he’d seen Dida being held captive, he had surely realized that we weren’t cooperating with the troublemakers. Luck had been with us in this instance. We might even be able to use Dorssen’s testimony to prove our innocence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To the point, Dorssen had tried to rescue Dida, but he had been ambushed. Now they were roommates.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The one problem with Dorssen’s little adventure was that, since he’d discovered the sewer entrance, the gang we were after had sealed it off. We could no longer use it as our point of ingress. We would need another route in order to save Dida. Namely, we’d have to go in through the front.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "None of my companions were content to let me stay at the inn alone, so I was going with them—though it was just Dean and Tanya. Lyle had to keep an eye on the local garrison. He’d swiftly identified which of the port town’s soldiers had a connection to the gang we were investigating and delivered the proof to Tanya while Dean and I were at the town hall.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now, while we were making our preparations, Lyle was with the soldiers, going, “Troops! What is the meaning of discipline?” and “You there! What does it mean to be a soldier?” He’d get them all riled up before he led them to our location. In other words, he was buying us time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It would be a problem if they arrived before the Boltik family was finished, but once they had cleaned house, I would have the soldiers take care of the rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, we headed to our destination. The smell of the salty sea air was especially strong by the shore. Our target was one of many large warehouses. We ducked into the shadows just inside the entrance. The Boltik family had just faced off with their rivals in the center of the warehouse, and the groups were shouting at each other.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the center of it all were Glaus and his treacherous second, Emilio.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me for a moment,” Dean said as he dashed off into the shadows between the crates. He disappeared into the dark, and I struggled to adjust my eyes to see.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really did it this time, Emilio, you bastard!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aw, shut up! You’ve gone soft, Glaus. I’m the man for the job—not you!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know, you’re really showing your own ass, acting like this. Don’t worry, though. We’ll take on anyone who spits in our faces, even if they’re barely worth the trouble. Get ’em, boys!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At Glaus’s signal, ear-splitting war cries rang out. The fight began.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a different kind of brawl than I’d ever seen Dida or Lyle participate in, or even Dean. It was brutal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Dean?” Tanya asked when he reappeared beside us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Boltiks figured out a way to get back into the sewers. They’re in them now to ensure no stragglers escape.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They really know what they’re doing. Well, my turn.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya moved forward. She slipped around the crowd and in the midst of the chaos, sneaked into the back room. Watching her maneuver around so many hostile individuals without attracting attention—it was really something else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A tense minute later, Dida emerged from the back room, though he was alone. Even from a distance, I saw that his cheek was red and swollen. If I got any closer, I was sure I’d see even more injuries. Despite his condition, he leapt straight into the fray.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-what is he doing?!” I gasped, even though I knew he couldn’t hear me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My fear couldn’t reach him, so he kept going. Dida soon became the eye of the storm. Everywhere he went, men flew left and right as he flung them aside with pure skill and strength. I was shell-shocked by the display.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Between the Boltiks and Dida, the enemy’s ranks rapidly dwindled to nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When Dida stood alone in the center of the warehouse, he sheathed his sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tory!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His voice shook as he snarled that name out; I felt it in my own chest. I couldn’t believe Dida could sound so grim—but his gaze was deadly serious. I wouldn’t have dared make light of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A man responded to Dida’s snarl, stepping forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s the mastermind,” Dean murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I looked up at him in surprise. Had Dida known who was responsible for this incident from the start?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meeting Dida face-to-face, Tory balked—but only for a split second. Then he grinned and strode over.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was obvious even to me that the Boltiks had already won. The enemy had been more or less obliterated, and the only fighting left to do was mere cleanup. But Tory still faced off with Dida.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You got out already, huh?” he snorted. “Sorry, but you’re gonna have to behave for a bit longer. It’ll all be over soon anyway. For both of us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s end this, then.” Dida drew his sword again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d never heard such gravity in his tone—and the way he drew his sword made it seem like he was about to perform some kind of sacred ritual.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re gonna point that thing at me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida hesitated for only a moment. “Yes. Doesn’t matter what we shared. Not anymore. You moved against my mistress, and for that, you’ll get what you deserve.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At Dida’s words, Tory burst out laughing wildly. “Oh, now you think you’re some kind of knight? You’re all high and mighty now, huh? Good for you, being your mistress’s pet.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida made his move. He had been trained by my grandfather; Tory stood no chance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In a single lightning-quick movement, Dida struck him with his sword—then as Tory fell, Dida struck him again across the face. Tory didn’t even have time to strike back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Boltiks had finished off the last of Tory’s gang. The only ones left on the field were Dida and Tory. All eyes were on these two men.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have one more question for you,” Dida said, his voice hoarse. “Why did you do this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why?” Tory sneered from the floor. “What does it matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It doesn’t. I just wanted to ask before I take you away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tory laughed again. “Take me away, huh? Hey. Really, though. Who d’you think you are, slum rat? You grew up in the same filth as me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He screamed that last sentence. It was a pathetic sound.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why’d you get so important, huh? Why only you? Why’d you get to walk in the light? You and I—we’re the same!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that what you were thinking?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, it damn well was! I wanted my share of the underworld, sure. But the real reason I did all this was you, Dida!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida’s face twisted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why were you the only one who got to go someplace where the sun still shines?” Tory snarled—no. He was sobbing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tory…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tory just laughed, as if he were spiting the pain with which Dida said his name. “But now you can go to hell! Go on! Go to hell! What will your precious mistress do when she finds out one of your old buddies was responsible for all this, huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh? Did somebody call? I glanced at Dean, and he gave me a wry look, his smile faintly amused.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So I stepped forward. Dean was right on my heels. The Boltiks spotted me as I emerged from the shadows, and they stepped aside to let me pass.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What will I do?” I asked as I walked into the pale lantern light. “I was thinking I’d tell him to come home with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The instant I spoke, both Tory and Dida turned and stared at me in surprise. Was it at my words or my presence?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m Iris—Dida’s mistress. It seems you’ve really taken care of my Dida, hm?” I smiled. As I spoke, the Boltiks began to back up. I was a bit puzzled, but I kept my gaze on Tory, still on the ground. “I heard your grievances. It seems to me your grudge is rather misplaced.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean, I’m right, aren’t I? What reason do you have to resent Dida? Because he made something of himself? Because he devoted himself to brutal, unrelenting training and grew stronger? Or are you frustrated that he’s the more skilled between you? Well, it’s not like he had any control over that either.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You bi—oof!” Tory cursed and tried to sit up, but Dida stepped on his chest to pin him down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now if you’re mad about the discrepancy in circumstances, even then, your anger is misplaced. If there’s anything to resent, it’s that I was so powerless that Dida was the only one I could save. Resent me. Resent my family. Not Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Both Tory and Dida seemed shocked to hear me say that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Although, even if your positions were reversed, I don’t believe you’d be much different. You’d still be jealous—just of someone else. Look at all the people you involved in your grudge match, after all. You just want someone to blame for all your insecurities and internal dissatisfactions. You want someone to be the villain for your tragic hero. That’s all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tory said nothing. He just stared at me, wide-eyed, his expression unchanging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s pity the man. Let’s show some compassion. But I’ll not empathize with him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tory was like an empty shell, unresponsive.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida. Do you have anything else to say to this man?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I’m satisfied.” Dida smiled. But it wasn’t his usual cheerful grin—it hid his hurting heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Bind him, Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I assumed the task would prove too hard for Dida, but he shook his head and took over before Dean could. “It’s too late for you,” he said to Tory. “There’s nothing I can do for you now that you’ve fallen this far.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We couldn’t let Tory go. He had to be arrested and tried accordingly. I shot Dida a look that said, You understand that, right? and he nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You Dida?” Glaus asked as he approached.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m Glaus. When I heard you were captured, I figured you had to be a lightweight, but you’re really something else. How’d they catch you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida smiled sheepishly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Glaus laughed. “You’re a hell of a guy. You let your guard down around your old buddy, and he fooled ya, huh? Don’t know if I can get behind escorting around a duke’s daughter, but I just can’t hate idiots like you.” He cracked up. “You’re a real fighter, too. It’s a shame. If she hadn’t plucked you out of the slums, I could’ve had you for myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t have him,” I retorted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Glaus laughed even more at that. “I figured you wouldn’t let him go. Can’t blame me for trying.” He looked sideways at Dida. “Seems to me you’re more than just lucky. Not that you aren’t fortunate. Just keep in mind, Lady Luck is a fickle mistress. If we don’t grab the hand that’s offered to us, we could lose it forever—but you made the most out of the opportunity you were given. You became such a great man that I’m nearly jealous. Though I’m sure you don’t love to hear me say it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed like Glaus was trying to tell Dida to ignore Tory—that it was more than dumb luck that had made him the man he was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida merely nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was quite moved by Glaus’s speech, to be honest with you. I could tell that he had the kind of charisma that drew such respect from other men that they would follow him without hesitation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve sure got a good eye, Lady. You should give yourself a pat on the back. Now then, mind if we take our share of the loot?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s up to you. I’ll be keeping an eye on you regardless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Glaus laughed again. “All right, we’ll be going now. We already tied up Emilio and all our guys who defected with him. Your soldiers will be here soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll tell them some concerned citizens settled the situation with the help of the Boltik family. People in town will hail you like true champions of justice.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aw, knock it off. I’m not used to that kinda stuff. All right, boys! Let’s head out!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Glaus’s men made their way toward the exit. I could tell they were all most pleased with their performance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dida, I need you to go back to your prison.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He frowned. “What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I sent Tanya to tend to you—I wasn’t expecting you to come out and take part in all this. I’m sure Tanya knocked out Dorssen so he wouldn’t get in the way, but I need you to go join him so the two of you can be rescued by the local soldiers. We can’t have word of your connection with the mastermind getting out, and it will help if you’re not the only one being saved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well.” Dida hesitated. “My lady, about all this…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can talk later. The soldiers will be here soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that whatever Dida wanted to say, it was important—he had just called me “my lady” for the very first time. But time was of the essence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I promise I’ll hear you out later,” I called to him as he made his way back to the back room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll hold you to that, Princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The familiar smirk on his face filled me with relief as I left the building.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 13",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 17: The Duke's Daughter Speaks on Crimes Committed",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 17:The Duke's Daughter Speaks on Crimes Committed",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "THANKS TO THE port town’s garrison, all those responsible for the hoarding operation were arrested. By the time the soldiers arrived, none of the culprits could even stand with how badly they’d been beaten.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "According to a concerned female citizen (Tanya), it was the Boltik family who had left them in such a state. The going theory was that the Boltiks had investigated the matter to clear their name and punished the perpetrators accordingly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was understood that House Armelia had sent one of the duke’s daughter’s bodyguards to secretly investigate the incident as well, and he had been rescued by the soldiers of the eastern garrison. This proved that the rumors of House Armelia’s collusion with the gangs were entirely baseless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was the official report from the garrison, which was now circulating through the town. We still had some loose ends to tie up, but overall, the matter was settled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t until three days later that I was able to fulfill my promise to Dida and hear him out. First, he had to give an official statement at the garrison about what had happened to him, and then he had to get his injuries checked out at the hospital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After all that, he came to see me in my study. The first thing he said to me was: “I’m deeply sorry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew it was rude of me, but my mouth hung open in shock. I mean, this was completely out of character for him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All jokes aside, I asked, “And what are you sorry about?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For everything. If it weren’t for me, none of this would’ve happened. But then I went out east without thinking, got caught, and got you stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was selfish to confront Tory on my own—I mean to say, it was unbecoming behavior of someone in your service, my lady. If you wish to dismiss me, I would not blame you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I smiled at the effort he was putting into his language. “Dida, the only thing I’d like an apology for is how much you made me worry about you. That’s all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His eyes widened with surprise. “But!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You say none of this would have happened if not for you—but Dida, I knew of your past, and I kept you by my side regardless. Without you, I would have only one guard in whom I could place my absolute trust. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to walk my streets so freely and without worry. You are essential to how swiftly I’ve been able to complete my agenda. You said you came here without thinking, but I appreciated your decision to investigate. You knew the lay of the land. The error in judgment was mine—I didn’t consider the ramifications of your actions. As for Tory…I chose to step forward and speak in the moment. You absolutely mustn’t apologize for that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida grimaced. “But I can’t forgive myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, his response was so grave. I sighed and smiled at him. “Haven’t you already been punished enough, Dida?” I asked him gently. “You trusted Tory. Glaus was right when he guessed how you’d been caught, no?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida looked at me with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know what it feels like to be betrayed by those you trust. I know our circumstances were different, but I understand the sort of wound your heart has taken.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Who had been hurt more terribly between the two of us? I would never dare compare. There was no way to know. I wasn’t Dida, and he wasn’t me. Neither of us could ever clearly articulate how much our betrayers had meant to us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was nevertheless sure that Tory had meant a great deal to Dida. That much had been obvious by the look on his face at the end of their confrontation. I didn’t know how deep Dida’s pain ran. It very well might have been deeper and greater than any pain I’d ever felt. I couldn’t honestly say I knew exactly what he was feeling—but I wanted him to know that he wasn’t alone. And if he was suffering that sort of pain, no further punishment could possibly be necessary.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you still can’t forgive yourself, then dedicate yourself to making it up to me through your work. If you still wish to work for me, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Both the knights and the military had their eye on Dida and Lyle, and now Glaus had tried to recruit him, too. Dida had the skill to take any job he wished.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida bowed his head. “I do. I wish to remain in your service, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have my thanks. That means the world to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida kept his head bowed. It behooved me to continue.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dida…I’m so glad you’re safe. I needed to hear your cheerful voice again. I kept imagining the worst might have happened. Please, rest today. And tomorrow, I’m looking forward to seeing you back to your old self.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.” Dida lifted his face and smiled at me, and I sagged with relief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Dida left, Tanya entered and placed several reports in front of me. “Has Father Rafsimons responded?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yes. Here it is.” She handed me a letter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. Well, I need to read all this. You’re free for the rest of the night, Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have a number of things you’d like to say to him, don’t you? I know how worried you were about Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya frowned deeply. “No, I…” she started to say in a hard voice, but she didn’t finish.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I handed her a stack of papers as she stood there, frozen. They were the reports on the eastern garrison that Lyle had prepared for us. She needed to read them before we got back to work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was only teasing,” I said. “Can you look over those and then give them to Dida for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, well, in that case…” Tanya reluctantly took the documents and left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I watched her go and then read the letter from Rafsimons.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He certainly acts quickly, just as I expected… Now it’s time for me to make a move as well,” I murmured as I folded the letter and put it away.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s me, Dida. I’m coming in.” Tanya knocked on the door and opened it.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida was sitting in a chair by the window, looking thoughtful. Servants’ quarters were typically quite small, but Dida, Lyle, Tanya, and all those serving Iris, including Sebastian, had always enjoyed large rooms for their personal use.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This report is from Lady Iris. She says to read it before you return to work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks.” Dida took the papers from her with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should do something about your face before you return as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did Lady Iris say that, too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course not. That’s a warning from me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida laughed. Tanya could tell it was forced.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just so you know, I haven’t forgiven you,” she said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Harsh. I’ve already been thoroughly lectured, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thoroughly? Please! I’ve barely even started.” Tanya scoffed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Dida where he’d been imprisoned. When he’d seen her enter the room, he’d laughed—not in relief, or with delight. It had been scornful. Desperate…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you badly hurt?” Tanya asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Naw, I’m fine. Sorry, but could you get me free?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you talking about?! I’m here to ensure your safety before the soldiers get here—same goes for the little rich boy over there. We’re making sure you aren’t used as hostages. And you just want me to untie you? What do you think you’re going to do, with all those injuries?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Settle things.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Settle things? Ha! Settle what? Don’t make me laugh.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m just doing what I have to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What you have to do is wait here, with him. If you go out there and Mr. Spoiled here catches sight of you in the fray, he’ll link you to the Boltik family and we’ll all be in a world of trouble! Or what, are you angling to get captured again? You’re too hurt to fight at your usual strength.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know my own limits. Those rubes don’t stand a chance against me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya was unmoved. “Bravado. You’ve been captured once already.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I let my emotions get in the way of my judgment. I won’t make the same mistake twice. I’ve chucked all that petty sentiment right out the window.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then what could you possibly have to settle?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want to end this. If I don’t, my ghosts will keep haunting me. This time, they’ve endangered the person who means more to me than anything. So I need to go out there and settle it, once and for all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t. Look, what would we even do with him?” Tanya looked down at Dorssen, who lay unconscious on the floor. He was an awfully heavy sleeper if he hadn’t woken up by now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re here. If he wakes up, knock him out again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please! Otherwise I’ll never be able to forgive myself. I could never show my face to Lady Iris, or you, ever again.” Dida was, in a word, frantic. “Lady Iris is my mistress. She saved me. I’d lay down my life to protect her. And I’m the reason she’s in this mess. I don’t expect her to forgive me. If I get caught again or cause any more trouble for her, then I’d rather die than let her get hurt.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you mean that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, Tanya released Dida from his bonds. He swung his arms about for a bit, testing them, and then stood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even when this is all over,” said Tanya quietly, “and you see Lady Iris, and she forgives you…I won’t.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That puts you in the right then, doesn’t it?” Dida said, and with that, he rushed out into the fray.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the present, Tanya opened her eyes. “Do you remember? I won’t forgive you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I saw you face him, that’s when I knew. I knew that he never could’ve stood a chance against you. That meant you were caught precisely for the reason you cited—you lost to your memories. You turned your back on the things precious to you now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was what Tanya could not forgive. She wasn’t angry with Dida for going to investigate by himself, or even for getting caught. Rather… “Do you truly wish to protect Lady Iris? I thought you were the same as Lyle. But this is the truth of you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t blame you for thinking that,” Dida said with a weak smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An answering weakness took over Tanya’s heart. She let out a sigh. “So? Is it settled?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Was Tory your ghost?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah.” Dida sighed deeply. “When I started asking around here in the capital, I realized right away that Tory was involved. So I decided to go see him. Try to get him to stop.” Dida spoke so quietly that Tanya had to focus to hear every word.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And the reason you wouldn’t take no for an answer when I tried to tell you to stay behind…was because of your relationship with him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah… He and I, we were like Lyle and me now. Brothers. We were always together. When we scavenged for food, when we played around, even when we joined the gang—we were together.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sounds nice. I was alone on the streets.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maybe I was lucky in that regard. But look how things ended up.” Dida laughed. “One day, the boss ordered both of us to go to another gang’s turf. Don’t ask why—I don’t know. I just had a feeling that it was something dangerous. Like he wanted us to steal something, make trouble. We were just some dirty kids with no protectors. If we were lucky enough to succeed, he’d be happy. If we failed, his rivals wouldn’t even peg us for his rats. Whole thing struck me as off, so I told Tory we should make a break for it. But he said, ‘If you run from here, where would you go? We don’t have anywhere else.’ So I went with him, even so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Went smoothly at first. But halfway in, the other gang caught us. I offered to be the decoy. Told Tory to go ahead and grab the loot and make a run for it. Told him to call for backup. The gang caught me, and they beat the crap outta me, but when they let down their guard, I bolted. And while I was running—that was when Lady Iris found me. You know the rest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m surprised her father let her take you in. Surely they suspected what you’d been involved in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought so, too. But Lady Iris was stubborn as ever. And I guess they figured I couldn’t do much mischief, what with all the people looking out for her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that’s how Tory and I parted ways. I was the only one who really escaped. I wish I could’ve gotten him to come with me, before we ever made that last run. But you saw how it ended up. When I got out there and he told me that he finally wanted out—that he was ready to escape for good…I believed him. But when we met up…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He captured you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yup. Looks like I’m no negotiator.” Dida laughed, but his face held no hint of a smile. “I probably wouldn’t have trusted anyone else in that situation. It was shady as hell. I was a fool to take him at his word. But I wanted to trust him. I thought that was who we were to each other. …Didn’t work. I shouldn’t have expected anything. It’s just as you said—I lost to my memories.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida’s fists were balled so tight that his knuckles had turned white. His nails were likely digging into his skin, drawing blood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” Tanya let out a sigh and stood. Then she walked over to Dida’s desk. The document from Lady Iris was still there. She picked it up again and pushed it into his chest. “Read this. You’re coming back to work tomorrow, yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yeah.” Dida was clearly confused by the rapid change in subject.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You settled the matter, didn’t you? And the lady gave you a second chance—so don’t blow it. Focus your entire attention on work. No more ghosts to distract you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right,” Dida agreed, and his head turned toward the ceiling. But his arm lay across his face; he wasn’t actually looking at anything.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re hopeless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wanna comfort me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shan’t. How could I ever show my face if I gave in to a man so pathetic?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good point.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya laughed, a bit helplessly. “The thing that connects you and I—and Lyle too—is our desire to protect Lady Iris. As long as we don’t waver from that goal, we’ll always be headed in the same direction.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even if they had a difference in opinion or didn’t see eye to eye, if their ultimate goal was the same, they would never part ways.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ll never waver, will you?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course not. I’ll protect Lady Iris with my life,” she said firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You deviated from this goal in one instance, but in the end, you returned. You settled the matter on your own terms. I suppose I’m relieved. I can’t forgive you yet, but I’m confident we can keep on in the same direction.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll have to do my best to stay the course—and to reassure you to the point that you feel comfortable having me at your back again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You will.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really… This place is so comfortable, I can’t stand it… I just can’t stand it,” Dida murmured, his voice shaking the smallest bit. A tear streaked down his cheek.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya pretended not to see it as she took her leave.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was somewhat nervous. To be more precise, my body was heavy with the gloom welling within me. The day had come for me to face Dorssen. He had involved himself in Armelia’s business. I couldn’t just let him off the hook without a word.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "More than anything, my concern was with his family. I had to be polite. I couldn’t do anything to lower my own house’s reputation. So I invited Dorssen to my estate. Of course, Tanya, Lyle, and Dida were with me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been worried about Dida, but he’d returned to work looking refreshed. Perhaps he’d felt better after talking to Tanya?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was mulling this over when I received word that Dorssen had arrived. I sat straighter and waited for him to enter the room. A few moments later, there was a knock on the door, and a servant showed him in. He was wearing plainer clothes than usual, likely because he had been traveling. I assessed the look on his face and found that his eyes were peaceful and calm.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a long time, Dorssen. Please have a seat.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He quietly bowed and did as directed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now what brings you to Armelia?” I asked as Tanya poured us some tea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wanted to learn more about you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…” I said, and that was all. That was the last thing I had expected him to say.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I realized I didn’t know a thing about you. All I knew were things I’d heard secondhand before I participated in your humiliation. I realized it was too late, but I started to wonder if I’d done the right thing. Thus I decided to come here and ask your people about you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is too late,” I said harshly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No, I needed to listen calmly. Dorssen had asked my people about me because he wanted to learn what sort of person I truly was, had he? But then he would have been relying on secondhand information all over again, just as he realized he had before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "How had he concluded that he’d made a mistake? I wasn’t looking for some kind of apology from him. Not at all. In fact, it made me uneasy to have him lurking around my domain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though I spoke harshly, Dorssen didn’t protest. I would have expected as much from the boy he’d been.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what were you planning on doing with the information you gained? You said you were trying to determine whether you had done the right thing. Well, what if you concluded that you had done the wrong thing? What then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t know how to answer that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is a waste of my time,” I said with a heavy sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At first, I thought I would apologize to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? So you thought you might have made a mistake, asked around, then decided you hadn’t after all?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, that’s not it. I thought that I couldn’t apologize to you. Apologizing wouldn’t change the fact that I’d hurt you. It wouldn’t let you go back to school. It wouldn’t return your fiancé. That’s what I concluded.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, how wonderful for you. True, if you’d come wanting to apologize, I would’ve turned you away immediately. But let me offer a correction—you didn’t hurt me. Furthermore, I have no desire to renew my relationship with the prince.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hurt you when I restrained you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, so you meant physical injury. Well, physical or mental, there’s nothing you can do to change it,” I snapped. “You’re right. Your words mean nothing to me, and I want nothing from you. Did you go to eastern Armelia knowing the troubles there? Did you involve yourself on purpose?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wanted to help you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your ‘help’ is nothing but trouble!” I laughed harshly, and his eyes widened in surprise. “You’re a knight. But before that, you’re Doruna’s only son. What if something had happened to you? How could I ever make it up to your family? People already know that we bear each other long-standing grudges. If some evil befell you in my domain, people would say all manner of things—most likely, that I’d taken my revenge on you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out another sigh. How many times had I sighed since I met him? “You haven’t changed a bit. It’s wonderful for anyone to have such integrity. But yours is self-righteous. You’re so concerned with what you think is right that you ignore the needs of the people around you. Then you end up causing trouble because of it, and you don’t even take responsibility for your mess. You’re like a child dreaming of being a hero.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Am I wrong? The proof is in your lack of conviction when it comes to me. As you said, regardless of whether your action was right or wrong, I’ll never return to the academy. Your apology won’t undo the damage done to the relationship between Houses Kataberia and Aremlia. The only thing you can do is accept your actions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dorssen fell completely silent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re no longer a child who can afford to sit around with his daydreams. In short, if you understand, stay away from me. Stop following me and stalking my lands. Leave Armelia and never come back.” I snapped my fan closed. I had a feeling that I was smiling for the first time that day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I ask you one last thing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you think of the knights?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think they’re very proud. They’re guardians. But I only know one knight with any degree of familiarity, and sometimes I worry that he traded his pride for arrogance.” And that was this knight’s cross to bear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I realized I was basing my opinion of an entire group on one person—but these were my honest beliefs about Dorssen. I wanted to think about him as a person unto himself, but at the same time, I nursed deep suspicions about him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see.” For some reason, Dorssen seemed entirely satisfied with that answer. “I’m sorry I took up so much of your time. I’ll be going now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, he left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maintain surveillance on him until he leaves Armelia,” I ordered Tanya as soon as he was gone. She nodded, bowed, and left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you think?” I asked the two men still standing behind me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“About him?” Lyle asked. “Well, I can’t read his mind…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I burst out laughing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But if a woman my age whose accomplishments far outstripped mine gave me a tongue-lashing like that…I wouldn’t be able to sit down and do nothing. It would make me less than a coward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you think he’ll try something again?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. I think he’ll grow.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Grow, will he? I think you’re right, Lyle, but…I just can’t picture that spoiled little rich boy turning into some kind of man.” Dida cracked up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to agree with him. “It seems like you know all too well what Lyle means, Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I got quite the earful yesterday.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t ask from whom; I already knew. But I also knew it was why Dida looked so calm now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t imagine what would happen with Dorssen, but it didn’t matter. I’d said what I needed to, and if he approached me again, I would be merciless. Although I hadn’t exactly gone easy on him this time either. I just didn’t want to have to deal with him in the first place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But when it came to a certain other young man…things were different.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s get ready to head out,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle and Dida nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll need both of you with me—as my bodyguards.” I smiled. I was more than a little relieved to have them both back at my side, my true guardians.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You never learn, do you?” I giggled. I was gazing at Van, who was in a prison cell.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Iris! Please, save me. Someone suddenly grabbed me and put me here! I have no idea what’s going on!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you really think I don’t know what you did?” I said, still smiling.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van’s eyes widened with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You really shouldn’t be such an open book, I thought, laughing all the more. “You really were easy to sweet-talk. But thanks to you, I know the names of every last one of the pope’s remaining supporters. The church adores me again!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I fed the names to Father Rafsimons, he’d moved rather quickly. He owed me a favor because of it. I’d reaped numerous rewards from this harvest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did I give myself away?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do I really have to list your mistakes? You believed them, first of all, and you allowed yourself to become their puppet. Then you used the matter of this imports crisis and tried to manipulate Dorssen to place the blame on me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The rumors that I was colluding with the Boltik family to steal from my own citizens were grave indeed. If Dorssen had witnessed anything to support the rumors, it would have set off a perfect storm. I’d thankfully chased him out of Armelia before he’d sunk any ships.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even so, I’d had no active part in this incident. Blaming me for an ongoing problem was a weak argument in theory, but that didn’t necessarily matter to someone like Queen Ellia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Queen Ellia had power and influence; she also had designs on my life. I dreaded to think what would have happened if I hadn’t been watching Van and Dorssen—I might not have noticed this vulnerability before the queen took advantage of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have all the proof, so it’s no use inventing explanations. Thanks to your father, your family name means nothing. You’re nothing but a regular citizen. The people you were involved with have either been captured or likewise disenfranchised. You have no shield. I am an aristocrat, Van—don’t tell me you thought you could plot against me and never suffer the consequences.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive me! I fell for their words—and they used me!” Van seized the iron bars so hard that they rattled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My bodyguards stepped in front of me, glowering at him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I’ve sent a report on this incident to the crown on behalf of Armelia. They’ll decide whether you’re to be tried under the kingdom’s law or under the duchy’s. We also need to consult with the church. At any rate, I’m sure your punishment will be quite severe,” I said as I turned my back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van wailed behind me, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I feel much better now,” I said as we left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought seeing his face would weaken my resolve.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In my past life, in Japan, I had of course known we had the death penalty for those who committed truly heinous crimes. But it had seemed surreal, like the last resort used in a far-off country. Thus, I had been hesitant to see Van again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But I hadn’t quailed from that brutal likelihood at all. In fact, my thoughts were already drifting back toward my other responsibilities.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad, that if it had to be anyone, it was him.” I’d handed him a chance to prove me wrong, and he’d smacked my hand away. He didn’t even seem honestly remorseful; I’d felt no need to hesitate. “Well, we’ve done what we came here to do. Let’s go.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahh… Looks like we can’t use Van or Dorssen anymore.” Yuri giggled.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You never had high hopes for either,” Divan noted. “We always said if they actually accomplished anything, it would be by sheer luck.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri nodded in agreement. “You’re right. They did all we could have hoped just by stirring up trouble for her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their master plan was running smoothly. To Yuri, everything happening in Armelia right now was just a way to kill time. She had fun imagining Iris’s panic; that was enough for her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re a terror,” said Divan, amused. “Thanks to your tricks, multiple houses have fallen out of favor, and there’s a rather amusing merry-go-round of family heads under house arrest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I was being nice. Those people were already whispering so loudly about their loyalty to the pope. They would’ve fallen sooner or later anyway. I gave them one last chance, but they failed.” Yuri shrugged. “They would’ve caused friction in Queen Ellia’s faction anyway, so it isn’t like we lost anyone important.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was Divan’s turn to laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a bit unfortunate about Van and Dorssen, though. I thought I’d be able to have more fun with them. I do hate little rich boys.” Yuri had been putting together a more elaborate plan for Van, but Iris’s spies had been too keen, and she’d had to abandon it. Yuri was put out about it, but she’d at least had a bit of fun.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s cruel. I thought you were more like your mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How many times do I have to tell you to stop talking about my mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, pardon me.” Divan smiled. “You should be more grateful, though. She’s the reason you grew to be the person you are now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri laughed coldly. “What is that, some kind of joke?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, just my honest observation. Her example taught you what not to do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri thought on that for a moment. Divan was right. Her mother had been a prime example of how not to conduct herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri’s mother had been born in Tweil. She’d come to Tasmeria as a spy, assigned to investigate and send word home. She had infiltrated the royal palace as planned, and at first, things had gone smoothly. But for some fool reason, she had fallen in love with a baron. Yuri wasn’t sure why.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yes, her mother had been very beautiful, and yes, physical appearance could be used as a weapon. But you had to know how to use it wisely. If you were plain, you could blend in with the citizenry. If you were beautiful, you could seduce anyone you liked—the most important people in an enemy country, for example.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mind you, physical appearance was just one tool.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, someone as strikingly lovely as Yuri’s mother could have used her beauty to seduce whomever she wanted. Why, then, had she fallen in love with a baron?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Yuri was born, Divan had made contact with her mother, though she’d tried to ignore his directives. This scene had been witnessed by a servant of the baron’s wife—who had then realized the true identity of Yuri’s mother. With that, Divan’s plan to have Yuri recognized by the baron and integrated into aristocratic society had become a failure.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The baron’s wife sent a threat to Yuri’s mother: “You’re a stain on the baron’s name. You’re nothing but trouble. Leave, now—get out of town. If you don’t, I’ll reveal you to the royal family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, Yuri’s mother left. The baron’s wife, eager to protect House Neuer’s reputation, never said a thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri didn’t understand why her mother had so easily abandoned her plan. She could have blackmailed House Neuer, simple as anything. The house would have been dishonored if the baron’s indiscretion with her mother had come to light. Instead, her mother up and left, so as not to cause him trouble. She didn’t even make preparations for her departure—she fled with nothing but the clothes on her back. She managed to safely give birth to Yuri, but they had no money, and life was terribly hard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On top of that, when a pregnant woman was on her own with nothing to her name, people were given to speculate. Even as a child, Yuri picked up on this. People said and did many cruel things to her. It started small—exclusion and the like. Then it escalated to verbal harassment and insults. When Yuri asked her mother why she didn’t have a father, she received no answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If Divan hadn’t found Yuri one day and told her the truth, she likely never would have known.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Divan had taught her a lot of things. He taught her how to observe people and how to speak to them in a way that would win their favor. He taught her that the world was big, much bigger than the small world she was confined to, where everyone was cruel to her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri kept the fact that she had met Divan a secret from her mother. She felt a bit guilty for keeping a secret, but at the same time, it was thrilling.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then, soon after she first met Divan, her mother collapsed from a sudden illness. It might have been cured with a certain medicine, but that medicine was horribly expensive, and Yuri couldn’t afford it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Divan had been away at the time—some manner of business. Yuri had been unable to go to him for help. So, she had gone to see the baron whom Divan had told her so much about. She hoped that maybe he would help. She didn’t even get the chance to ask; she was turned away at the gate. Worse, the baron’s wife, who had already threatened to kill Yuri’s mother, came after the girl herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Luckily, Divan saved her in the nick of time. Who knew what would’ve happened to her if not for him?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He gave her a good scolding afterward. If she’d only put some thought into her actions, he said, she would have realized showing her face would anger the baron’s wife—not to mention the trouble it could have caused for Tweil.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But the baron is my father, isn’t he?! I’m sure he’d help me if he knew what was going on!” Yuri screamed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But Divan chastised her. “Stop dreaming,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It didn’t matter if the baron had truly loved her mother. He wouldn’t divorce his wife. After Yuri’s mother disappeared, he hadn’t even searched for her. He hadn’t cared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri didn’t argue. In fact, she accepted Divan’s words as truth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When it came down to it, she realized, relationships were all about deception. The person who could outmaneuver the other was the winner. Divan had taught her that. Love was the same as all the rest. Whoever truly fell in love first lost. Whoever believed love was real lost.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So her mother had lost. It was so simple, so obvious. Therefore, Yuri would fight, and she would get the best of everyone else. The townspeople who looked down on her, the baron and his family—even her mother, who had trapped her in this situation in the first place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Outsmart, get revenge, stand on top of all those who’d stood on her. Yuri vowed to do just that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She lost her first battle, however. Yuri’s mother died before Yuri could overcome her. Divan had acquired that expensive medicine she needed, but it was too late.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Strangely, Yuri didn’t cry. All she felt was pity. Her poor, pathetic mother. When you lost, the only thing waiting for you was a miserable death. So Yuri would never become like her mother. She wouldn’t be able to show her mother true triumph, but she could use her mother’s past choices to her benefit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri had no attachment to Tasmeria. No one there had ever helped her. They were nothing but her enemies, and the kingdom had been nothing more than her prison. She didn’t care what happened to it. Instead, she would succeed her mother—and she would be even better.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You were right. As soon as the baron’s wife died, he took me in right away. That man became quite a good teacher. It was so amusing, I had to laugh.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri lived among the aristocracy now. She had nurtured relationships with the nobility before making her official debut into society. Most importantly, it had become her hunting grounds for a potential husband.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the name of that hunt, she had exhaustively studied etiquette before she entered the academy. She knew better than to just learn the bare minimum required to attend.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When she arrived, she had to admit that it was a bit refreshing to see other people using their family members as pawns as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her father had wanted her to use his family’s connections to make friends, but she’d laughed off the idea. What, go straight from the streets to charming high society? Please. She was far more realistic than that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But she knew how to use what he had correctly, and to her true advantage. The lessons she’d learned from Divan were, in the end, far more useful than the ones she took from the baron.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, none of that matters, in any case. Divan, isn’t it about your time to shine? Do please entertain me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” Divan replied with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seeing the smile on his face brought a smile to Yuri’s face as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 14",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "THE THIRD VOLUME. I can’t believe we’re at the third volume! Not only that, the first volume of the manga was released at the same time. That installment has a lot of characters, so there are a ton of dresses and jewelry. It must’ve been a lot of work to draw! Since I’m not great at art, I can’t even imagine. I’m so glad I get to read the story of the duke’s daughter as told by Suki Umemiya’s beautiful work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to ask for a lot of favors from my editor this time around. I wrote so much that I wasn’t sure if it would all fit in one volume. But if it had to be split up, the first volume would’ve ended on quite the cliffhanger! It all started when I told her I couldn’t cut down anymore scenes. Once she gave me the okay on that, I started thinking about scenes I wanted to add…and I just got even more demanding! She was a brand-new editor for me, too, so I’m really sorry for all that!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks to her, I was able to present my readers with a substantial story, and I’m glad it turned out the way I envisioned it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, I’d just like to thank all of you. I’ve only come this far because of my readers and everyone who has supported me. Thank you so much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "—REIA",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 15",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you for reading!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Get the latest news about your favorite Seven Seas books and brand-new licenses delivered to your inbox every week:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sign up for our newsletter!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Or visit us online:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "newsletter",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
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"value": "Chapter: 16",
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{
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"value": "Table of Contents",
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"value": "Characters",
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 11: The Duke's Daughter, Talk of the Town",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 12: The Duke's Daughter Settles Things",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 13: The Duke's Daughter Returns Home",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 14: The Duke's Daughter Has a Bad Feeling",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 15: The Duke's Daughter Makes Her Move",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 16: The Duke's Daughter Heads into Danger",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 17: The Duke's Daughter Speaks on Crimes Committed",
"loss": null
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{
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"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
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{
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{
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"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 11: The Duke's Daughter, Talk of the Town",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 12: The Duke's Daughter Settles Things",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 13: The Duke's Daughter Returns Home",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 14: The Duke's Daughter Has a Bad Feeling",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 15: The Duke's Daughter Makes Her Move",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 16: The Duke's Daughter Heads into Danger",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 17: The Duke's Daughter Speaks on Crimes Committed",
"loss": null
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"value": "Afterword",
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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"value": "Chapter: 1",
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"value": "Cover Page",
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{
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"value": "@page { margin: 0; padding: 0; }",
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{
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "div.ImageContainer { width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; }",
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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"value": "Characters",
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"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
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"value": "Chapter: 6",
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 7",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 18: The Duke's Daughter Rejoices in Daily Routine",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 18:The Duke’s Daughter Rejoices in Daily Routine",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“IT’S ALMOST SCARY that I’ve grown used to this,” I murmured to myself, surrounded by documents. The skritch, skritch sound of my quill scratching the parchment filled the room. There were several mountains of papers on my desk. Not piles. Mountains.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I still had documents from day-to-day business to approve; they had piled up during the business with my excommunication. But at least the amount of work now was nowhere near as bad as it had been during the scandal. Since then, I’d put contingency policies in place in case of another emergency. Ideally, there would never be such an emergency again, but I wanted to be prepared just in case.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Phew… Finally finished.” Both sadly and fortunately, those preparations had recently come to my aid. “Thank you, Sebastian.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean is the one you should thank. He gave out instructions and dealt with a great many things before he left.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? That surprises me; he left in such a rush. I do appreciate it, though.” Deep inside, I felt myself reacting to the mere mention of his name, but luckily, I must not have shown it on my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady.” There was a knock at the door, and Tanya entered. She had a somewhat perplexed look on her face. “I have news for you, if I may?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, go ahead. I just finished my work. What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, there are two things. The first is that we have received word that Dorssen has left the knighthood. Furthermore, House Kataberia has begun the process of disowning him. We’re expecting a formal notice from the Kataberias confirming the latter in short order.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. And what is Dorssen doing now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He disappeared shortly after returning to the capital. Shall I try to find him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need. He has nothing now. No money, no family honor. The only thing he has left is that strength that he’s worked so hard to hone. And I truly believe that strength won’t be a problem, as long as I have Lyle and Dida. We don’t need to send someone after him, but I do want you to start looking into his actions around the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. I’ll arrange it right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And the other matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Van and the nobles involved in the scandal have received their sentence. Van will drink poisoned wine, just as his father did. The other nobles must surrender their status as heads of their families and be confined to their houses permanently thereafter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” I responded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t seem very surprised.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suspected as much once we handed them to the kingdom to be dealt with.” A wry smile crossed my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Van was already a commoner with absolutely no backing and nothing left to his name. There was no way he could have conspired against a noble—especially one related to the duke and current prime minister—and escape unscathed. If the kingdom let him off easily, it would weaken the means by which it protected itself. Meanwhile, though up until now the Darryl Church had always shielded Van, now he was nothing more to them than a nuisance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not to mention, Queen Ellia probably wanted to be rid of him before he opened his mouth and said something he shouldn’t.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am a little surprised that the sentence was passed down so quickly, but I let the kingdom handle them because I had a feeling that they would deal with Van appropriately. I offered to help him once. He turned down that help, and that’s his own fault. I don’t see the problem with letting him be the scapegoat if it also gets rid of the other nobles who were already standing in my way, do you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was sure that Queen Ellia had never seen Van or any of the rest of the nobility involved with this scandal as anything more than pawns. Van had now more than served his purpose by being fed to the wolves. Furthermore, one of the other nobles being punished controlled the domain north of Armelia. His domain had not only raised tariffs on the duchy, but they had committed multiple infractions against Armelia since, so he had become quite troublesome.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true,” said Tanya. “My only regret is that I was unable to get rid of him myself, but I’m glad that I could be of service to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was such a very Tanya thing to say; I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you for the news. Make sure to confirm that the punishments are actually carried out. I don’t want to hear later that he’s still alive for some reason. Who knows what would happen then? And Tanya? I’d love to have some tea in the salon while I take a break.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, my lady.” A pleased smile crossed her face. She was always concerned with my health, so she looked relieved that I had offered to take a break of my own accord.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After seeing her smile, I tried to ignore the heavy feeling inside of me and stood. I left the room and shortly arrived in the salon, where I took a seat. A few minutes later, Tanya entered with a cup of tea and set it down in front of me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm, it’s delicious,” I said.",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. I’ll excuse myself now, but please do let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will, thanks.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once I heard her footsteps depart, I let out the deep sigh I’d been suppressing. Then I inhaled the aroma of the herbal tea. Ahh, so relaxing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment Tanya informed me of Van’s death sentence, I felt a mixture of emotions—joy, relief, resentment, and anger…and pain. All of those emotions combined together, like when you dump a bunch of paint and mix it all up until it becomes a terrible color that you can’t begin to describe. This was the nature of the feeling within my chest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Strangely, my mind was surprisingly calm, all things considered. I had a feeling that once I took this moment to relax, those bad feelings would pass. I looked out the window at the flowers and greenery outside, the sight of them soothing my aching eyes. I hadn’t noticed it at all when I was knee-deep in my work, but now that I turned my gaze elsewhere, I realized for the first time just how tired my eyes were.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I need to make sure I take good care of my eyesight. They don’t have contacts in this world, after all, I thought to myself as I enjoyed the view.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "House Armelia had our own private gardeners, of course. They had planned this view down to the fine details when they designed the gardens, and they worked tirelessly to maintain its beauty. How lucky they were to be able to see such beauty up close every day!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I sat there by myself, I became lost in thought. I suddenly remembered that I’d received a letter from Mimosa a while back. She had spoken of a fellow she was seeing, one whom she intended to marry. She had always been an exceptionally cautious person when it came to affairs of the heart, but it seemed even she was no match for the power of love. I’d sent off a letter expressing my congratulations and asking about her potential fiancé, but I had yet to receive a response. I had been so wrapped up in the ruckus with the Boltik family that I hadn’t had the chance to follow up, but perhaps it was time to write her another letter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, I saw Dida in the corner of my vision. “Oh, Dida!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey there, Princess. Taking a break?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I am.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Got it. I’m gonna hand these documents to Sebastian in a bit, but I need you to look them over for me. It concerns our plan to oversee the security forces going forward. I’m stepping down, but Lyle will still be here, so let him know if you need anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. Are you leaving right away?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not right this minute, no.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then will you take a break and join me for some tea?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you insist,” Dida answered with a grin as he took the seat across from me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before I could even say a word, one of the servants who had been waiting in the room poured some tea for him. She was currently a maid in training, a student from the trade school we’d established for those who wished to study between the elementary school and academy for higher education. Currently, those who wished to enroll in the academy had to be studying a dedicated profession like medicine or education, or have aspirations to become a butler, maid, or bodyguard. My family had established the programs for the latter three with our own money.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The programs for butlers and maids had proven incredibly popular, with a high applicant-to-acceptance ratio. Apparently, one of the main attractions was that a student could learn formal etiquette through the program. The students worked in shifts at my estate to get real world experience, and at present, this particular girl was being trained by Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? Did Tanya brew this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I’m surprised you knew.” I raised an eyebrow.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida let out a shy, sheepish chuckle. “Yeah, well. Anyway, why did you want me to stay, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because I have a report for you—although, I suppose that makes it sound more formal than it actually is.” I finished my tea and set it back on the table. I returned my gaze to Dida, who had suddenly straightened in his chair. “Don’t worry, there’s no need to be tense.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then don’t look so serious, Princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh!” I laughed, having not expected him to say that. I hadn’t even realized I was frowning. “I’m sorry. I’ll get right to the point. I heard that Dorssen has left the knighthood.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that Dida had spent time in Dorssen’s company several times when they were both training with my grandfather, and they had been held captive together during the Boltik episode. Given that connection, I wanted Dida to know before anyone else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that right?” Dida’s reaction was more matter-of-fact than I’d imagined, almost as if he’d been expecting this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re not as surprised as I thought you’d be. Don’t tell me you already knew?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I didn’t. But I had a feeling this would happen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? And why is that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because of something he said to me before. ‘What does being a knight mean, anyway?’ or something like that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wha—when did you see him?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Before he left. I was keeping an eye on him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. And since you’re not a knight, he asked you what you thought of them?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He said Lyle and I fit his mental image of a knight way more than he did. I didn’t understand what he was talking about, and I told him as much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then he said, ‘I was too preoccupied with my status and grew arrogant. I strayed too far from the person I should have been.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And then what did you say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I asked him who he thought he should’ve been. Because no matter how hard you work, you’re always just gonna be yourself, you know? The real question you should ask is how to be the best version of yourself you can be. You know, how to go about it, how you wanna be. But it seems like he doesn’t have any idea what he wants to do, let alone what he wants to become. Probably that’s because this whole time, he’s just been chasing an ideal without really understanding himself. That’s why he got so preoccupied with his title of ‘knight’ and why he got so cocky about his social status as the son of a count. But in my opinion, most rich noble kids are like that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s pretty harsh. Did you tell him all that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Something close to it, anyway. Then he said coming to the duchy had made him think about a lot of things. That the crimes he’d committed were severe and that he knew he couldn’t change the past, so those crimes would stay with him forever, both as a person and as a knight. Said he had to atone for it too. Atone for it, then remember what he had yearned to be for so long, and then try to become that once again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not a bad plan, in my opinion.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t seem too surprised by any of this either, Princess. It sounded like a pretty serious decision to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s not that I’m not surprised. It’s that I’m not interested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s awfully cold.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I realize that. But that’s the only way I can describe it. I mean, what am I supposed to do after hearing his new manifesto? As long as he doesn’t ask anything of me or the duchy, anything that happens to him simply doesn’t concern me. At this point, I just don’t care about what happened in the past.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you’ve forgiven him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing can change what happened between us. Enduring those experiences changed me as a person, both in good ways and in bad. But, as I said, it’s in the past. I have more important things to dwell on.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was true; I had been so busy lately that even when I thought about these things that had happened so long ago, I felt detached from them, almost as if those memories belonged to someone else. I had more important things to do than ruminate. However, those events were still engraved deeply into my heart. It was in that moment of betrayal that I had regained the memory of my past life and my two selves had combined, but other traumas from those months had left their scars on me as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It doesn’t seem like he’s going to go out of his way to oppose you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If he does, that’s for my subordinates to worry about it. But if he truly has made such a serious decision to better himself, then what he does going forward is crucial…for him. He’s already been asked what kind of person he wants to become, and he’s asked himself the same question. I went through the same thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was referring to when Dida had asked me if I was prepared for war. It had made me call into question the kind of person I wanted to become and what I wanted for Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sometimes, even if we think things are going a certain way, we realize we’ve lost sight of our goals once someone else challenges us. This gives us a chance to refocus. When this happens, some people are weak and search out an easier path. I was no exception.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, can he pull through?” I asked. “Can he get back on his feet, having made a mistake, and continue on toward his goal? That’s both the most difficult and important thing, in my opinion.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s definitely difficult. Even I get indecisive and make mistakes every now and again,” Dida said with a hearty laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mm-hmm. Well, anyway, thank you for telling me all this, Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to thank me. I’d better get going now, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. I’m sorry I kept you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No worries. Excuse me, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Dida left, I was once again alone to enjoy a fresh cup of tea. Time passed rather quickly, and before I knew it, the sun was setting. Everything grew still and quiet. I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve returned, my lady.” Tanya appeared without so much as a sound.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome back, Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did as you told me. Everything is arranged. I’ll let you know right away if there are any developments.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Our emergency preparations are coming along smoothly. I have my grandfather to thank for that.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I read through the documents as I listened to the reports from the contractors in charge of construction. Armelia bordered the ocean, and several rivers flowed through the duchy, which made it imperative to take measures against potential flooding.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My grandfather had prepared against flooding on a smaller scale from very early on. Many governors could think up ways to improve their territory to make it richer and enable development, but it was a rare governor who could devise measures to mitigate risks that might happen decades or even centuries down the line. Where natural disasters were concerned, more people seemed to be of the mindset that there was simply nothing to be done to prevent them. They believed that humans were powerless against the strength of Mother Nature. Some even bet on the chance that nothing bad would happen, or simply refused to consider the possibility.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As such, the fact that my grandfather had put measures in place so long ago in hopes that they would someday prove useful just went to show how much he had cared for his citizens, and how much he had loved Armelia. After him, my father had taken control, and I after him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s all for my report, my lady,” the contractor said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Thank you. Once I review everything and make my decision, I’ll deliver my instructions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris, may I ask you something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please forgive my presumption, especially since I am the one you’ve tasked to do the job, but are these projects truly necessary?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’ve never heard of these two rivers flooding. Wouldn’t it be better to send monetary assistance to the north to aid with cultivating new land, or to fund an expansion of the ports? I feel like either would be much more beneficial to Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was a knock at the door just as he finished speaking, and Rehme entered. “Those rivers have flooded, actually,” she said. “One hundred fifty and one hundred years ago, respectively.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The contractor looked surprised by both Rehme’s sudden appearance and her comments.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me for interrupting, Lady Iris. But I’ve come to tell you that I’ve prepared the space for your meeting, as requested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Thank you, Rehme.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rehme, was it? Pardon me, but how do you know about these floods that you mentioned?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Journals from the governors and reports from that time. The reports were especially helpful, as they detailed the extent of the damages and what kind of relief was distributed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You read reports and journals from one hundred fifty years ago? I can’t even imagine how long those reports are. That goes for the hundred-year-old one too…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, but that’s not all!” Rehme enthused. “We have journals and documents dating all the way back to the first governor of Armelia!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t tell me…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t blame the contractor for being surprised, not only that any documents had been preserved for over a century, but also that someone had taken the time to read them. Just imagining the sheer volume of reading made me lightheaded. Only someone like Rehme could take delight in making her way through the piles and piles of old papers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The older flood did the most damage; two villages were completely submerged by the floodwaters. Obviously, everything there was a total loss, so the capital and other territories sent aid to survivors. Thanks to their help, we narrowly avoided a famine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s true that the financial investments you suggested would benefit Armelia,” I explained. “But there’s no guarantee that a natural disaster won’t strike sometime in the future.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well…” The contractor seemed speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps nothing of the sort will happen in your lifetime. But what of your children’s, or your grandchildren’s? What if something happens, but we’ve taken no measures to mitigate the effects? I don’t intend to live with regrets of ‘I should have done this!’ or ‘I could’ve done this!’ If we act now, we protect your future family. Would you abandon that opportunity?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So the purpose of the construction projects is to lower the risk of serious damage in case of future disaster. I understand now. Please forgive my rudeness for speaking out of turn and interfering with your duties as the governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s no trouble at all. You’re perfectly correct to question me. I realize now that I neglected to adequately explain my reasoning for the projects. If you have any other questions in the future, please don’t hesitate to come to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way…you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. So much so that I’d like to hire you—not as a contractor, to be clear. I’d love to have your perspective as an official for the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually, I’ve attended the academy at the suggestion of my father. It was the trade school, of course, but occasionally I sneaked into the classes for bureaucrats and listened in on them. I found myself quite interested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really! Ha ha. You’ve truly gotten good use out of the academy, then, haven’t you? Well, in that case…do you have a bit more time to spare? I’d love for you to stay on for the meeting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-are you sure, Lady Iris?” The contractor’s eyes sparkled, his expression eager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The content of the day’s meeting was contained within the documents he was currently holding. There was nothing in there of a sensitive nature unsuitable for his eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rehme. Prepare another seat at the table.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.” Rehme left for a few minutes and then returned shortly to tell me everything was ready.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I urged the contractor to follow me. An entire wing of the mansion was dedicated to business for running the duchy. Many Armelian officials were there, briskly attending to their duties. The contractor looked around with interest as he walked behind me. Before long, we arrived at the meeting room, where five elderly men and two Armelian officials were waiting for us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you so much for meeting with me here today, everyone. Without further ado, let’s get started. Go ahead and look over the documents in front of you. I’d love to hear your opinions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Things seem to be going according to plan. I visited the site, and it looks just how you envisioned it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t you think our side of the levee should be finished faster? If things continue on like this, we’ll put too much of a burden on the other side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The five elderly men looked over the construction reports and exchanged opinions on them. There was just so much I didn’t know. It made me regret not spending more time in Japan cultivating more skills and knowledge. Then again, I had no time for regrets. I only had one pair of hands and eyes and only one brain. I couldn’t learn everything in the world myself. That was why I had decided to surround myself with people who could supplement the knowledge that I lacked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone has different interests. Everyone’s appetite for knowledge is stimulated by different things. Some people analyze and study practices in the past that have been generally neglected, such as flood prevention, and some dream of putting their skills to use by building aqueducts to bring water to crops. I had gathered all those people together to have discussions like this one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "These days, it was even easier to find those people hungry for knowledge, now that I had established the academy. I suspected this was also due to the request I had made to Headmaster Luka to make the academy library open to the public, to which he had agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d had dozens of meetings like this so far, but at first, the attendees hadn’t been as open with their discourse as they were now. Once they realized that they could make their dreams a reality and see the fruits of their studies and plans, I saw the light catch in their eyes, and a new readiness to share their opinions bloomed forth. They began to exchange their opinions with each other, together generating even better ideas than they’d had to begin with. Since they were all so passionate about their interests, it was my job to manage the meetings and keep them all on task.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After we’d gone through basically everything, I called the meeting to a close. “I think it’s time to give out instructions. Luckily, we have someone from the contracting firm here, so I’ll check with him on this detail; how is the workforce replenishment coming?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though I sprang the question on him without warning, the contractor readily answered without showing a hint of apprehension. “We’ve used several subsidies to hire day laborers. But we’re still scraping by at a bare minimum. If we need to get the job done faster, then we’ll need to hire more people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Speaking on behalf of Borsa, it would be quite difficult to allocate any more of our budget toward this construction project.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. However, the problem here is that these workers aren’t accustomed to doing a job like this, so accidents have occurred more frequently, and quite a few people have been injured on the job. If these injuries continue, we’ll have a harder time retaining our workforce. Honestly, I’d like to be in a position where we can keep replenishing our people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s happened to those who were injured?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re recovering at home or in the hospital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And who’s paying for the cost of their treatments?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re covering the cost themselves, of course.” The contractor gave me a curious look, as if he wondered why I had asked such an obvious question.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. Let me think about what we can do for that situation. But let’s adjourn this meeting for today. Thank you so much, everyone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I called the meeting to a close, everyone reached for a drink. There had been much enthusiastic debating today, so everyone seemed to be parched. After everyone gulped down their drinks, they stood up and left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did you think?” I asked the contractor who I’d brought with me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He gave me an excited look. “I learned so much. Everyone’s enthusiasm lit a fire in my soul!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really? I’m so pleased to hear that.” His eyes and voice were so earnest that they put a smile on my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you so much for allowing me to have such a wonderful experience.” With that, he excused himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once he was gone, I looked down at the documents again. “Injured workers, hmm…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is something the matter, Lady Iris?” Rehme asked from beside me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I was just thinking.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If there’s something on your mind, feel free to ask me any questions you might have. Speaking of catastrophes, though, I think it would be prudent to be wary of them this year.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have you already seen some signs?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, no, not at all. But it’s common in this kingdom to see several months of hot weather followed by long periods of heavy rain, especially in the western regions, maybe once every hundred years or so. It’s never affected Armelia, so it’s generally none of our concern, but I thought I ought to let you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks. Could you write a more detailed report on that phenomenon and deliver it to me later?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wonderful. I have a feeling I’m going to be relying on you a lot from now on, Rehme.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I reviewed all the fine details of the documents before me, filled them in, and signed.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, I have a letter for you.” I looked up as Tanya handed me the letter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? I wonder who it’s from. Ah, my father. He’s included a letter from Lord Kataberia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya visibly reacted to the mention of this name with a frown. Count Kataberia was Dorssen’s father, of course. It was clear that she was wondering about the contents of the letter. I smiled wryly at her reaction and read the letter from my father first.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Father says, ‘Now we can reconcile.’ Hm? Reconcile what?” I took out the letter from Count Kataberia next. “Oh!” I let out a cry of surprise as I read it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What does it say, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Basically, I suppose you could say it’s a letter of apology. He didn’t sugarcoat it either; the sentences are all extremely frank and straightforward. Remember how Father sent a formal objection to Lord Kataberia when Dorssen came to Armelia? This is in response to that. It says the count has left the knighthood of his own accord, and that not only has he disinherited and disowned Dorssen, but he’s asking for our two families to bury the hatchet. I have to wonder what manner of objection Father sent to him…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your father and mother were quite angry with Dorssen over his actions toward you when the prince broke your engagement.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was surprised to hear this news from Tanya. Quite some time had passed since then, so why was I finding this out just now? “Is that true?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. You’re a lady, the daughter of a duke, and you were pinned down and injured. No matter what the second prince said, since at that time no official notice had yet been given, you were still in line to become a princess. A future member of the royal family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But right after that, the royal palace had issued an official notice informing everyone that my engagement with the second prince was terminated. It was only a formality, of course, because I was almost certain that they had decided to break off the engagement the moment Yuri got Queen Ellia involved. Still, before that happened, and at the moment when Dorssen had me pinned down on the floor, I had indeed still been a future member of the royal family—and I had been and remained the daughter of the duke who was the prime minister.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So in that regard, Dorssen committed a serious faux pas. I suppose you could call Lord Kataberia’s quickness to say he would immediately correct his son’s behavior an act of kindness on his part, but I’m sure it was also a way to protect himself. But Elulu told me that the duke, and especially your mother, were incredibly angry about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When your mother lived at her family’s house, she had many interactions with the knights who admire Master Gazell. That’s why she was so much angrier than she might otherwise have been when Dorssen misused his status as a knight. Supposedly, she said, ‘It’s a disgrace to the knightly code of honor. Would a knight use force against a feeble woman? I have to question the judgment of a knight commander who would welcome someone like that into the ranks of his knights to begin with. It’s forgivable because you’re going to correct him, you say? His particular behavior is the outcome of your two decades of raising him, so what in the world are you talking about? Forgiving him is the same as doing nothing at all. In the end, he gets to keep the job and live the life he wanted all along. So he suffers absolutely no consequences. When did our family become so scorned?’ After that, she declared that she would no longer attend any party hosted or attended by the Kataberias.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mother…” Hearing my mother’s words relayed by Tanya made the depth of her anger sink in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So the count has left the knighthood… In that case, does the vice-commander take over?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe so, but could you check and make sure? Oh, and take these documents with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I let out a deep sigh after Tanya left the room. I was still in a state of shock at these new revelations. But more than that, I felt happy. Despite my best attempts to suppress it, a smile crept up on my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father had been angry on my behalf. At the time, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had abandoned me after all had done to sully the family name. One of the foremost reasons I’d worked so hard after he appointed me acting governor was so that I wouldn’t disappoint him any further.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now, of course, a different motivation drove me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was twisted. Someone else had suffered defeat, and here I was, happy at the reason for their suffering. But it was times like this that made me love my family so much, and that made me feel loved in return.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, I heard a clink from the pocket watch that hung around my neck, almost as if to chide me for the silly grin on my face. At the same time, my morbid happiness and excitement at the situation waned. I decided that I should try to stop thinking about the matter. I didn’t pity the Kataberias, nor did I feel sorry for them, but to feel joy and excitement at their misfortune was another matter entirely.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I fingered the watch, the warm feeling inside me now coming from a different source. I wondered what he was doing. I hadn’t thanked him enough. All he ever did was save me. He helped me with my work, he gave me emotional support. I relied on him so much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The burden of responsibility on my shoulders wasn’t so bad because it was tied to a bright future for our citizens, but sometimes, when I felt that burden was too heavy, he was always the one who helped me to my feet. That’s why I wanted to be the best person I could be, unashamed—for him. Even though, and perhaps especially because, we could never be a couple.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took out the documents detailing the plans we’d been writing. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Dean entered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s nice to see you again, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“D-D-Dean!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s my name. What’s the matter? You look shocked to see me. Have I come at a bad time?” His face darkened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, not at all. A-anyway, go ahead and have a seat. There’s something I need to ask you. Ah, tea…!” I certainly couldn’t say that I’d just been thinking about him, so I hastily urged him to sit down. Unfortunately, I was so nervous, I could barely speak. So many things had been going on when I realized my feelings for him; I’d never really had a chance to sit with them since.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry about that. I ran into Tanya on the way here, and she said she’d bring us some tea. Are you certain nothing’s happened, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, it’s fine… I was just thinking, that’s all…” I answered vaguely, unsure of how to respond.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The air was so awkward that I hoped Tanya would come back soon. Thankfully, she entered the room a few moments later. I began feeling calmer after sipping some of her herbal tea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for coming,” I said at last. “As I said, I was thinking. I was surprised because you showed up the moment I thought that I needed to ask your advice about something. Forgive me for being so flustered. Also, I feel like I didn’t thank you adequately enough before.” I tried to speak calmly, pushing my feelings for Dean deep down inside. If I closed off my heart, surely I would be able to converse with him like I had before. I had to. Because if anyone picked up on my feelings for him, I wouldn’t be able to share these moments with him any longer. Thus, because I loved him, I chose to close my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no need to thank me,” he said. “I did it because I wished to. In any case, I’m sorry for showing up unannounced. I was nearby for an unrelated matter and wanted to know how things were going, especially with regard to tying up the loose ends from the incident before. I should have sent word that I was coming.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. I’m incredibly glad you came, so don’t worry about it. At any rate, here’s the thing I wanted to run by you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I started telling him about my idea. It was a system of medical insurance. I’d spoken with him about this before and jotted down my ideas, gradually filling in more details. That was the content of the documents I held at that moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Some historians posit that the first insurance system originated as a traditional mutual aid enterprise in a European guild during the Middle Ages. If an individual was injured and couldn’t work, their income would dry up and thereby deal a blow to their family budget. That obviously put a lot of pressure on workers. The best course of action was to try to prevent accidents from occurring as much as possible, but if support systems were put in place in case of unfortunate events, workers would be able to perform their jobs with more confidence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hopefully, that would also encourage a sense of loyalty and belonging in Armelia’s people. I was hoping that we could implement such an insurance system not only for construction workers but for all Armelian citizens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, the idea you mentioned before. It’s important that you start it now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. When I told you about it before, it was something I was hoping to implement sometime in the future, and I put it on the back burner. But all the other reforms we’ve undertaken have been making great progress. Additionally, a situation has arisen that makes the insurance system necessary. Of course, the duchy will supply subsidies. Recently, thanks to someone cutting the fat out of our budget, we should have plenty of money to allocate toward this cause. But it will be funded mostly by mutual aid from the citizens, in the spirit of helping their fellows.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Interesting,” Dean said with a sparkle in his eye and a grin on his face. He looked triumphant, like he’d just won a debate. “But at the same time, it’ll be difficult. If we collect money from the citizens, we have to make sure we do so fairly. Let’s gather more details before we bring it to the officials. First, we should decide how much to collect from individual payees.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We discussed that a little before too. I still think the insurance fees that each citizen pays should be income-based.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t disagree. Now that we’ve finished straightening out the family registers, we aren’t collecting poll taxes anymore. Since we can determine any given individual’s income, we can use that information to set insurance fees,” Dean said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We just need to figure out how much of the medical treatment and medicine we can cover…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps we can gather those with knowledge on the subject to discuss it together? Luckily, Armelia has no shortage of such people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a good idea!” I nodded. “I’ll ask Headmaster Luka for some candidates. Moreover, medical treatments and medicines are advancing day by day, so it would be a good idea to touch base with him regularly anyway.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. It might be a good idea to cover basic medical treatments with insurance and to have more expensive treatments or check-ups paid out of pocket. If we pay for everything, the reserves won’t last very long.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. Up until now, each hospital has set their own price for each treatment, but we’ll need to adopt a universal pricing system for insurance purposes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We should talk to Headmaster Luka about that too,” Dean agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was starting to get more excited as our discussion continued. “We need to clarify the means of payment to doctors as well. We should feel out trying to start a guild, like we discussed before.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, Tanya’s calm voice interrupted our enthusiastic conversation. “My lady, it’s almost time for your meeting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, you’re right…” I’d been so absorbed in chatting with Dean that I’d lost track of time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In that case, I’ll check up on the progress resolving the matters on my own. I’ll pop in to Borsa and see how much of the budget that we shaved away last time can be spared for the insurance, then go to Agio and check on the progress with the family registers,” Dean offered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That will help so much. I’ll check in with Headmaster Luka. I know we’re not ready to go full steam ahead yet, but we can at least get the ball rolling.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, I switched mental gears and walked with Tanya to my next meeting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You looked happy, my lady,” she commented, catching me off guard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-huh? I’m not sure what you mean, Tanya. I-I…” I’d finally regained my composure, and now I was all flustered again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I simply meant that you looked happy coming up with ways to improve conditions for the citizens and the government, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "O-oh, that. I let out an inward sigh of relief. “Yes, well… I love Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So much had happened, but every time I overcame obstacles, I felt proud of the blood that ran through my veins, and I thought about how much I loved my homeland. That was why I was so happy, even if I had to suppress my feelings. In the end, I loved this place and its citizens, who had accepted me after I lost everything.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We were able to make so much progress today,” I murmured as I looked down at the documents in my hand.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After finishing my meeting and my daily duties, Dean and I had been working on the insurance policy plans. It was the middle of the night. I looked out the window, thinking that we were in all likelihood the only house in the duchy with its lights still on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We did. Now we just need to get it approved by the officials and the merchant guild and lay the groundwork with the various businesses and doctors.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, about that, Dean, it occurred to me that we need to lay the groundwork with the citizens as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The citizens?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. We haven’t sufficiently explained to them why the flood mitigation construction projects are necessary. I thought perhaps that this would be a good opportunity to do so, but I think it’s a better idea to explain not only why we need it but specifics about just how the mitigation practices work. I’m sure there will be some skeptics, but it’ll be better to offer the explanations than to not explain it at all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. That sounds just like you, my lady,” Dean said with a smile on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a split second, my heart surged. How had I ever maintained my composure in front of him before?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does it?” I pushed those feelings aside and focused on our conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I realize you’re technically the acting governor, but you are truly a governor. You can do anything you want as long as you issue an order, but you truly love Armelia and its people.” Briefly, I thought I saw his expression darken. “Pardon me. At any rate, we should let everyone know. I think it would be best to put out something in writing rather than to express it verbally; it isn’t realistically feasible to gather everyone who needs to know and tell them in person. Furthermore, if we send verbal messages, it’s easy for the information to get misinterpreted or twisted along the way. Luckily, since we have the academy, literacy rates in the duchy are high. As long as a household includes a school-aged child, they’ll be able to read the announcement.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good point. Let’s distribute literature regarding the policy to all households throughout the domain. Perhaps in magazine form?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excellent idea. In the capital, the upper class reads magazines for pleasure, but it might be possible to establish one in Armelia as a means to distribute information to the citizens. Actually, I’m sure it’ll be possible at some point, given how swiftly education is progressing here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. How wonderful that will be when we do it!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The reason it’s so wonderful is because of your wonderful relationship with the citizens. The vast majority of nobles fear empowering the common person.” Dean’s voice became so serious that it frightened me, a sharp contrast to my excitement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Why is that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Remember what you said before? Knowledge is power. That’s precisely correct. In this kingdom, knowledge grants a certain set of special rights and privileges. People who possess knowledge can suppress and control the citizens. In other words, you’re on your way to dismantling a cornerstone of the kingdom’s class system.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness! Ha ha ha.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I laughed, but Dean gave me a questioning look, as if trying to ascertain the meaning of my mirth. I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I went out onto the open balcony. It was pitch-black, and I couldn’t see a thing. But if I closed my eyes, I could picture the town perfectly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s true that it may be easier to suppress the uneducated,” I acknowledge. “I could technically do anything I wanted, and they wouldn’t understand. But that’s what I would have to do to suppress them, so I don’t mind getting rid of a burdensome system like that. If I make a grave mistake, then Berne will succeed me. And if Berne’s children or grandchildren make a grave mistake, then I want the citizens to be able to choose how to move forward. They have a right to do that, as citizens of Armelia.” I wondered if I thought this because of my past life. Either way, I took that knowledge, and Dean’s advice, and kept charging ahead. Although I’m sure some people in this world viewed my position as heresy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The future that frightens me most is one where the citizens move against me because they don’t understand something, because they assume I’ve done the wrong thing,” I said. “Lack of comprehension leads to anxiety, which in turn leads to dissatisfaction. With no outlet for those feelings, they can easily lead to violence. But if the people have the knowledge to make their own judgments, then making decisions reflecting those opinions leads to a well-ordered government. That’s the ideal situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned toward Dean and saw that his eyes were wide with surprise. “Moreover, it’s impossible to fully suppress inquisitive minds,” I said firmly. “That’s what I think, anyway. Knowledge is power? No, because people are creatures who think, everyone has power. That’s why, eventually, the power will pass to the citizenry, regardless of anything I did or didn’t do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean laughed, the sound of it reverberating in the darkness. Now it was my turn to be surprised; it was so rare to hear him laugh out loud like that. “I suppose you’re right. The power will eventually pass to the citizens, you say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m only speculating.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I have a feeling that you’re right. So if you think about it, that makes the battle for succession in the royal family seem even more absurd than it already does. It will be up to the future king whether the citizens, armed with their new power, despise the royal family and abolish it, or if they will remain admired and respected by the people. That’s not a matter of who becomes king, but more so what that king does. The people will decide whether his actions are just or unjust. I’ve never even thought about it before. How very narrow-minded of me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean…you’re being too hard on yourself,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But for some reason, he looked happy—no, perhaps freed was the right way to describe it. “Forgive me, my lady, but can we keep what I said between just the two of us?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. As long as you keep my words a secret as well. We’ll be equally guilty, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He looked so very amused that I couldn’t help but join in and smile too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. Well, then. As my accomplice, would you like to join me for a drink? Think of it as your reward for keeping mum.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I feel like I should be the one rewarding you, but I’d love to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went back inside and pulled a bottle of wine from the shelf. It was one my grandfather had given me. He liked to send me wine every now and then, along with the instructions to relax with a drink, but since I never really drank that much, the bottles just kept piling up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya always demurred, and even though Dida enthusiastically offered to drink them, Lyle and Tanya had banded together to stop him. The only ones who would join me for a drink were Merida and Moneda.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We took a seat on the balcony and poured a glass for one another.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Going back to our conversation…” It sounded like Dean was choosing his words carefully. “What do you think about the notion of ‘ignorance is bliss’?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you asking because of a personal experience?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not sure. But people aren’t strong enough to accept every bit of information they receive. Let’s take the flood mitigation, for example. Suppose we go to the people who live in those areas and we say, ‘Your land flooded one hundred fifty and one hundred years ago!’ and they become anxious and fall into a panic?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is a concern.” I smiled wryly at this example. This result certainly wasn’t out of the question. “Ignorance is bliss, hm? I feel like only those who aren’t ignorant can say that. I could manipulate the information in my favor, but if I did that, then it might cause doubts in the future, which would be completely counterintuitive. I’m not saying I always have to act with complete transparency in every situation, but I want to be as honest with my people as possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So really, only the people in the know can look at others and say, ‘Ignorance is bliss.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No one can ever completely understand what someone else is feeling. And you can’t ever predict how someone will take information, or what they’ll think about it either. And so…no one can quite be sure that ignorance is bliss. After all, sometimes information you’re not privy to can bear fruit in unpredictable ways.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure what you’re hiding,” I went on, “but if you’re doing it to protect others, then that’s based on your speculation about how they’ll react to the truth. They could hold a grudge once they find out. They might even hold a grudge now, because they’re aware they don’t know the truth. It all depends on what it is. It also depends on how close of a relationship you have with those you’re concealing the truth from.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you think I’m hiding something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aren’t you? I feel like you’re not talking about this in regard to me and the Armelian citizens. Although, I have no idea what you’re hiding or who you’re hiding it from.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m hiding something from many people. Including you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness. What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I laughed. “That’s true. And what does it say about me, who continues to employ you despite this secretive behavior? Ah, we’ve had this discussion before, haven’t we?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The wine was delicious, which wasn’t a surprise, since my grandfather had such wonderful taste in alcohol, being the heavy drinker he was. That thought reminded me of my previous life and how I had been in the habit of sitting at home after a hard day’s work and drinking by myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have one or two secrets of my own,” I said. “Everyone does. As long as it’s not something that could harm the people of Armelia, I won’t fault you for it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, you…” Dean’s tone was exasperated, but the smile on his face was incredibly tender.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To be honest, I was dying to know what he was hiding. But at the same time, I was frightened. I had plenty of grounds to be suspicious, especially considering the current state of affairs. But I’d spent so much time with him that I was naturally given to believe I could trust him. So it didn’t matter whether I was better off not knowing or if I’d regret the truth. Not as long as he had been honest with me about the path we’d taken together and that we were headed in the same direction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A gust of wind blew past, carrying flower petals with it. A beautiful sight, befitting this duchy where spring eternally lingered. The flowers were a beautiful pale pink that reminded me of cherry blossoms. They filled my vision, almost like a veil of mist had fallen over my eyes. Even though Dean was right in front of me, I couldn’t make out his face. I wondered what expression he had on right now. The flowers obscured everything.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, he reached a hand toward me. I silently stared at it. His hand stopped for a split second, so close to my cheek that if I moved ever so slightly, he might have brushed his fingertips against it. My heart swelled at that faint warmth. I caught a glimpse of his eyes between the pink petals, beautiful and serious.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is it strange to describe a man as beautiful? I thought to myself sardonically. But that’s truly what I thought of him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then I thought: I love him. I meant it so earnestly, it was frightening.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I just wish…” Dean whispered. But he didn’t continue. Maybe he hadn’t meant to say it out loud to begin with.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The wind stopped. His hand followed the curve of my cheek to the back of my head. “That was quite a gale, wasn’t it? You have petals in your hair.” The serious tone in his voice had vanished, just like the wind. When he removed his hand from my hair, he was indeed holding several flower petals.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right. But…they were so beautiful,” I said, and I smiled—swallowing the rest of my words as the expression spread across my face. He smiled too, but it almost seemed self-deprecating.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That night, I had a dream. It was one I’d had many times before. In the dream, I had survived the accident in my old world and made a full recovery, upon which I returned to my normal, everyday life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Every time I had that dream, I grew anxious and frightened, since those memories of my past life were so freshly recovered. It made me wonder if this life I was living now was reality or just a dream. I had memories of my life in this world as Iris. But ever since I was a little girl, sometimes I would be overcome by a panicked feeling that I had forgotten something, and an incredible desire to go somewhere other than where I presently was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I’d been relieved when I finally remembered my past life. It felt like I had at last regained something inside of me that had been missing. At the same time, when I remembered that life, the lines between reality and dreams blurred, and I became like a lost little girl who had found herself in a world far, far away, who didn’t know where she belonged.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That fear tormented me at the most unexpected times. Was the life that I was living right now actually reality? Or was I still back in Japan, exhausted from work and dreaming this all up after falling into a deep sleep? The mind is a most unpredictable thing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My family was the main reason I’d thrown myself into my work, but I had also done so because I wanted to do something meaningful, to feel like all of this was real. If I immersed myself in work, I could forget those worries. It made this unpredictable situation feel more tangible.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But there was more to it now. When I told myself that, the image of the woman wearing a business suit working in a busy office vanished. In its place appeared all the many people I’d met as Iris. The ones I’d grown up with or met at school, and the people I’d met through working as the governor of Armelia. And, of course, Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My relationships, memories, and feelings for all those people tied me to this world. That was why I was able to believe that I was really here. It was why I was able to tell the “me” in my dreams that everything was all right. At last, she smiled.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two days later, Dean left in a rush in the morning. At the time, I was meeting with representatives from the merchant guild. I would’ve felt more confident had Dean come with me, but he’d said he was busy, so I couldn’t possibly have asked him to accompany me.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can’t ever let our guard down in a meeting with you,” one of the leaders of the guild said with a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unlike last time, this isn’t a request. It’s already been decided.” I said this with a smile on my face, but for some reason everyone in the room looked very tense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Occupational accident insurance, eh? So we pay an insurance fee, and then if something bad happens, we get a payout. And each occupation has a different fee to pay depending on corresponding risk. Honestly, where do you come up with these things?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This practice will be mandatory for as long as an individual works. There are advantages, of course. The insurance payout will be sufficient to cover total financial loss and necessary living expenses.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At present, if a worker suffered an injury on the job, they had to hope that their employer would compensate them. Most of the time, they received an advance on their pay and a lump sum on top of that. I had checked multiple sources regarding the lump sum, and it seemed like it was in truth a terribly small amount, barely enough to cover a one-time medical treatment. “Lump” sum didn’t even seem like the best way to describe it—it was maybe little more than a pimple.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This insurance will lower the risk of skilled workers leaving, and it will certainly boost morale. Your workers feel like they’re being advocated for.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I noticed several people reacting to my last sentence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It sounds like you have eyes and ears everywhere.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? It isn’t like I’ve been watching you or anything. I just hear things here and there in town.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Truthfully, it was a total coincidence that I’d found out that workers wanted more compensation when they were injured at work. It wasn’t that I was watching the merchant guild’s actions particularly closely. Tanya had discovered this information while conducting a different survey in town. She really had a knack for gathering essential information.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, if it’s mandatory, then I suppose we have no choice. Although, you have prepared quite the substantial reward for us…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed I have. Just think of these lump sums as an investment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We hope to continue cultivating a long and wonderful relationship with you, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out an inward sigh of relief once the leaders of the guild gave their approval. Even though they said they couldn’t let down their guard with me, I actually felt the same way. I was always anxious about what they might say to me. “I’m honored to hear that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I exchanged firm handshakes with each of them, calling an end to the meeting.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Afterward, I headed to the academy so I could speak with Headmaster Luka.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you here about that insurance system I’ve heard about?” he asked in lieu of a greeting, getting straight to the point.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. We’re introducing insurance for occupational hazards as well as medical misfortune. I’ve already met with the leaders of the merchant guild and secured their approval. This system will pay for damages incurred after an accident on the job. I’ll be discussing the particulars with them later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The leaders of the merchant guild are a stingy bunch, but if you’ve already acquired their approval, then I’m sure everything will go smoothly from here on out.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hope so. Anyway, I was hoping to discuss the medical insurance system with you, Headmaster.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, yes. And what do you want this senile old fellow to do for you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d like you to gather together some experts on the subject to determine which treatments and medications we can cover. If we cover every single expensive medical treatment, it won’t take long for the system to break down—the funds will simply dry up. That’s why I’d like to talk to you and other knowledgeable people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Also, now that we’re introducing these systems, I’d like to establish a medical guild. We can determine which percentage of treatments will be a patient’s responsibility to cover, and insurance will pay for the rest. Doctors will send reports to the guild regarding the medical treatments each patient received, and the guild can cover any losses.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In Japan, the insurance companies used a points system. After an examination and a diagnosis, each medical treatment was given a number of points, along with the medicine and medical supplies needed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d also already discussed the medical guild with the other Armelian officials.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“From now on, we’ll charge a flat fee for run-of-the-mill medical treatments. That’s what I want to discuss with the experts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If we left it to the free market to determine, prices for medical treatment would skyrocket, because medicine was advancing by the day in Armelia. If things continued that way, the insurance system would quickly collapse. That’s why I needed to figure out where to draw the line across the board. I fully intended to ensure that the services that wealthy people desired—as well as expensive medical treatments—were paid for out of pocket. The insurance system itself would be administered by public management.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Individuals of all ages were covered by insurance. However, funds would be collected from all citizens except for children and the elderly through a flat tax and insurance fees. The payments would be doled out by public management. Anything public management couldn’t cover would likely eventually lead to a private insurance system. That had led me to another idea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since I was establishing an insurance system, I thought I could have Abitante and Borsa cooperate to draw up the insurance policies. But if I was going to centralize it under public management, then I could use the documents relating to the census that was currently in progress.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Basically, the point would be to ensure that people of Armelia felt they were accorded a special privilege for their citizenry. Those from other domains would still have to pay for everything out of pocket.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“General medical treatments, hm? That will be difficult to determine. Every doctor charges a different price for their services.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, and the more reputable the doctor, the higher the price.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So going by what you’ve said, we’ll want to establish fixed prices for medical examinations. Insurance will pay a portion of that depending on the diagnosis, and the patient will pay out of pocket for anything insurance doesn’t cover.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I jotted down what Headmaster Luka said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Different doctors will also prescribe different treatments depending on their diagnoses,” he went on. “Furthermore, any given treatment may rely on different medicines, from which a patient may choose. Therefore, the physicians will need to be made aware of which medicines are covered by insurance. They should be able to explain this to the patient and leave it to them to decide whether to use medicines covered by insurance or to pay for those that aren’t. The medical guild also ought to sponsor several classes a year to educate the physicians on this process, along with lectures detailing all the medicines covered under the insurance plans.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Regarding the medical guild, you should also employ physicians there to ensure the process goes more smoothly and so they can conduct audits of the process.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stared at Headmaster Luka. I’d been so preoccupied with concentrating on what he was saying that I only now realized that he was talking like he was already completely on board with the idea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He noticed the surprised look in my eyes, and he gave me a wry grin. “Things are never boring with you around, that’s for certain. I’m no spring chicken, but for this project, you have my utmost devotion.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The conversation had gone much smoother than I’d anticipated, much to my relief. He agreed to gather some authorities on the subject, whom I would be able to meet with at a later date.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that taken care of, I returned to the mansion and got back to work. I didn’t have much choice, since I was actively making more work for myself. The government officials of Armelia were also bearing the brunt of the increased workload. Those working at Abitante and Borsa were especially busy, although the latter seemed to have a gleam in their eye because of it. Or perhaps “gleam” is too soft a word to describe the look they had. Glint was more like it. Honestly, it was a bit frightening.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went to take a peek after adding more documents to their pile, and they were grinning like fools while working at breakneck speed, with some shouting “This is nothing!” Of course, I simply pretended like I never saw a thing and quietly took my leave. The officials at Borsa really were workaholics in the best sense of the word. After I shared that opinion with Tanya, she immediately replied, “You’re just like them, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me.” I heard a knock at the door and Sebastian entered. “May I have a moment, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Sebastian?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve received a pile of invitations, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, now that you mention it, it’s almost time for the social season, isn’t it? I can’t believe it’s already that time of year…” It had completely slipped my mind. I had been so absorbed in my work that I completely forgot about being social at all. That was quite unheard of for the daughter of a noble. “Social…yes, social.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is something the matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just can’t believe people want to throw a party in times like these.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The king was ill and the fight between the first and second prince’s factions was worsening. Wouldn’t it be a better idea to quietly withdraw to one’s domain and hole up there for a while? I’m not saying it’s bad to want to have it both ways, but still…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s quite the opposite, my lady,” Sebastian grinned, and it was quite an intimidating expression. “It’s precisely because of times like these that the families want to gather together—to gauge the situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can’t Mother just make the rounds to the important households?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Surely you jest, my lady. You’ve officially made your debut into high society; if you don’t attend now, not only will you damage your own reputation, but the good name of House Armelia as well. Moreover, it’s for your benefit to go, since things have been so fishy in the capital of late. It will help keep you on top of things, the better to ensure you don’t find yourself trapped later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand. I had to give it a good try, anyway.” I knew the importance of keeping up appearances. Mother always called high society a battlefield—it was a place where nobles both sounded each other out and kept each other in check. As the ruler of my domain, it was necessary for me to both keep myself apprised of other families’ actions and demonstrate Armelia’s power to them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But I will admit to wondering if maybe, just maybe there might be a way around actually attending.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“At any rate, I’ve cleared your schedule for the day after tomorrow. You have an appointment with Madam Crejours to take your measurements and design your dress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s right. I used to go to the madam’s place so often. I’ve heard rumors that she’s quite busy lately, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Quite some time had passed since we discovered silk, but we were finally working on selling it. The country of origin had concealed the methods of silk production, but I knew the raw materials they used due to my past life. I had taken an interest in stories and anecdotes regarding the Silk Road in a history class I took.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "You never know what might come in handy in the future.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After a lot of trial and error, we had established a means of production. We’d secured a limited number of resources and tried to place restrictions on exporting silkworms, but fortunately, from the standpoint of a country who didn’t know what silk was made from, the worms were nothing but bugs. Therefore, it had been easy to buy the silkworms from a separate country and begin to breed them. Now that we had a fair amount, we had been able to start the silk production. However, we didn’t yet have sufficient raw materials to begin full-scale production, so we were only selling silk garments at our flagship store in Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The madam also had a supply of silk, and once word got around that she was able to make her customers a dress on the cutting edge of the latest fashion, she’d been swamped with work.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She’s busy because of all the ideas and fabrics you keep bringing her for your new dresses. She says she wants to prioritize your needs first, especially as she’s been having trouble coming up with new ideas lately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-oh.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As promised, Madam Crejours arrived two days later to take my measurements. I wasn’t well versed in clothing and accessories, so after I’d placed a few orders for myself, Tanya stepped in and adamantly declared that I must have the very finest of clothes, at which point she descended into an enthusiastic discussion with the madam.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They discussed colors, patterns of embroidery, embellishments, and so on. I did love fancy things, but after they spent more than half a day discussing every possible detail of the dresses with no end in sight, all I could do was stare blankly at them. At that point, I didn’t even care what I ended up with.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The madam came off as a wonderfully businesslike and refined woman, but once she got to talking about clothes, her entire demeanor changed. Her enthusiasm was further stoked by Tanya, so it was even more overwhelming than usual.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since production took a while, I was a bit worried that the dress wouldn’t be ready in time, but the madam said she would put her entire staff on the project to ensure that it would be. I was sure Sebastian had arranged for everything to go off without a hitch.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was used to my shoulders being stiff from sitting at my desk and working for so long, but now they ached for a different reason. Nevertheless, I headed back to work.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s all the news I have for you today. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Armelia’s economy is thriving,” Moneda said, in high spirits. He gave me regular reports on the economic situation of the bank in the duchy’s capital as well as its branches in other cities. We also discussed future plans. He was right; things were going swimmingly for Armelia’s economy.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The flood mitigation project was proceeding smoothly, as were other infrastructure improvements. At the same time, Armelia’s population was ever-increasing, resulting in a brisk trade with other kingdoms. Now that both domestic and foreign demand had grown, our employment numbers were very favorable, which had led us to a bullish market.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s true. But Moneda, there’s something that’s been on my mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s that, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The cost of living in the capital is skyrocketing. Especially the price of food.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, you’ve heard about that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I make it my business to know all the details about the situation in the capital, no matter how small,” I said. “As of right now, it hasn’t affected Armelia, but what are your thoughts on the matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Moneda nodded. “Well, I was also concerned, so I looked into the matter. But I haven’t heard of any regions suffering from poor harvests, nor have I found any evidence of companies buying up and hoarding goods. The situation is truly baffling.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had a feeling. Even Tanya said it would take her a while to look into it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was merely using my past experiences to my advantage. Although I quit the merchant guild, I still check in with them—and companies in other kingdoms as well—because I still have quite a bit of influence in that arena.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. So there’s a shortage of goods despite no word of bad harvests. And it was gradual, so the citizens haven’t grown restless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s possible that the regions producing food are holding on to product instead of releasing it. Or the palace might be placing a levy on the goods. But that’s about all I can think of.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Or Tweil is involved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d spoken so quietly, he hadn’t heard what I said. “Nothing. We have plenty of supplies stockpiled in reserve, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, we bought up goods to stockpile then when other domains were raising tariffs on Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t help but feel that we were playing right into the enemy’s hands. It was entirely possible that I was just being paranoid. At any rate, it was fortuitous indeed that we had plenty of goods at hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s hard for me to believe that farms are withholding their goods. Keep an eye on what’s going on in those various cities of yours, Moneda.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, I’ve noticed that promissory notes and checks are being much more widely used. I’m sure it’s because the banks have been encouraging their usage. Thank you for that, Moneda.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m honored to hear that. It’s all due to your support, my lady. The special ink we received has provided the bank with the means to produce them at no cost to us. It’s therefore allowed us to build up our own supply.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Azuta Corporation’s research and development department had given the bank our recipe for our special ink. I couldn’t remember what they had been trying to make at the time, but the ink they developed changed color when you shined a light on it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Recently, we’d invested in a great number of inventors and researchers, leading to a landslide of new products and technology. The researchers’ opinion by and large was that most of their innovations would be used as nothing more than toys if sold to the general public, and since they felt like that would be a waste of their efforts, I had decided to buy them up for Armelia. In this case, I had given the ink to the bank, which they were using to make checks and promissory notes that were difficult to forge. It was employed for other anti-counterfeit purposes too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s no other use for it, so this just happened to be the right product for the right place.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That reminds me, I brought you the thing we discussed before.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was wondering why you brought up the ink all of a sudden. I haven’t even approved this one, correct? Let me see it.” I took the object from him and looked at it. “It’s very well constructed. Knowing you, you’re probably also using this to combat counterfeiting, aren’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“These documents will answer your questions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness, you certainly are prepared,” I said with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you intend to attack the enemy’s castle, the first step is to fill in the moat. We can get this up and running at any time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. You were a merchant, after all, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Let me think about it for a bit more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, Sebastian entered the room. “M-my lady…” He looked unusually flustered, making my stomach tie itself in knots.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it, Sebastian?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An emissary has arrived from Acacia, a neighboring kingdom. Apparently, the first prince has ordered them to observe the goings-on in Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did you say?” For a moment, I felt just as flustered as Sebastian looked. Moneda’s eyes also widened with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It made more of an impact than I’d expected. The kingdom of Acacia lay across the sea from Armelia, and because of that location, it had treated Armelia like the gateway to Tasmeria for many generations through its diplomacy. Not only did they speak a different language, but their culture was vastly different from ours. Every few years, Acacia sent an envoy to the palace to pay their respects, but that was to the royal family. It was absolutely unheard of for another kingdom to single out a certain domain for their visit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Was it because our trade had been so brisk lately?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-well, I’ll meet with the envoy. Moneda, would you mind…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He bowed his head and excused himself before I could even finish my sentence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Will you see the prince?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t. It would leave a terrible impression if I were to depart from protocol and bypass Tasmeria’s royal family to meet with him myself. I’ve already put Armelia in an awkward position, even within the kingdom. Worst-case scenario, I wouldn’t be surprised if people think we’re trying to break away and become independent.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So…you wish to decline?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think that’s for the best. It’s better to cause as little offense as possible. At the very least, I’d prefer if they visited the palace and then stopped by here…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true…” Sebastian was looking awfully pale. I couldn’t blame him; I was sure I looked no different.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sebastian. Have you informed my father?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve already sent our fastest horse.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course you did. Well, there’s no reason for me to keep them waiting, so I’ll go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The long hallway felt even longer than usual. I didn’t want to go, but I had to. My sense of duty was the only thing making me drag my heavy legs forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry to have made you wait,” I apologized as I began the meeting. A man around my age was waiting for me in the parlor. He had a scarf wrapped around his head and wore loose-fitting clothes—the traditional garb of Acacia. As soon as he spotted me, a soft smile spread across his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I am terribly sorry for my unannounced visit. My name is Hafiz Bent Mersid.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Whenever an envoy from Acacia had visited the palace, the royal family had always thrown a party to welcome them. Since I was the daughter of a duke, I’d attended them before I was expelled from the academy, but I didn’t recognize this man. Of course, I’d only ever seen the main ambassador, so I could only speak about that fellow in particular.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m honored to make your acquaintance. My name is Iris. Iris Lana Armelia. It’s a pleasure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have to admit, I was surprised to hear that a woman was in charge of this domain all by herself… But I also heard that Armelia is a most prosperous region. Your father had quite keen insight if he decided to entrust Armelia to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness… I’m not sure I deserve those compliments.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t be humble. Trade has increased by leaps and bounds since you became governor. My kingdom’s royal family is extremely impressed with your abilities. That’s one of the reasons why our first prince, His Royal Highness Prince Khadir, decided to visit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…” I hid my mouth with my fan as I laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mind raced as I tried to figure out what to do so as not to be rude to the man in front of me. He was handsome, though simultaneously, he gave off a wild, passionate impression. He had a soft smile on his face, but the glint in his eyes seemed to say that he was very carefully sizing me up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m extremely honored, but I will have to ask my father’s opinion first…” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you? I heard you were endowed with all the authority of a true governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You certainly have done a lot of research about this one domain of another kingdom! I thought as I let out an inward sigh, careful not to let my smile falter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But by all means, do so. However, if you speak with your father, I do have one favor to ask of you,” Hafiz said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? What’s that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To be honest with you, our visit to observe Armelia is merely a pretext. The real reason Prince Khadir has come is to propose to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time, I was so surprised that I thought my heart would stop. I knew what the phrase “propose” meant in this context, but it didn’t even register with me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems His Highness fell in love with you at first sight. It’s moreover quite a favorable proposal, one that will build a bridge between our two countries.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had no memory of the first prince being among the envoys at the prior parties. Was he lying when he said he’d fallen in love with me at first sight? Or had he disguised himself to blend in with his diplomats?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Here is the formal offer.” Hafiz reached into his pocket and produced a folded piece of parchment. As he did so, the gold ring on his finger caught my attention. The top of it was flat, embossed with a design of a falcon. He handed the document to Sebastian, who then passed it to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Hafiz. Goodness, that’s a very beautiful ring you’re wearing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, this? It’s made from gold mined in my country.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is it? The design is so gorgeous, it caught my eye.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hafiz’s smile deepened when he heard that. We stared at each other silently for a few moments. I knew we were both sizing each other up to glean as much information as possible and studying each other’s dispositions. The silent siege and defense filled the room with great tension.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me.” Tanya swept into the middle of our discussion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Instead of answering me aloud, she leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “I’ve just received word that your father has been attacked.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wanted to scream “What?!” but I somehow managed to suppress it when I remembered the man before me. “I’m so sorry Hafiz, but there’s been an emergency. Would you mind if I excused myself?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. Please go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I rushed out of the room as fast as I could without looking impolite. Tanya and I walked down the hallway and entered a room two doors down from the parlor. “What do you mean, Father’s been attacked? Is he all right?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. He was heavily wounded, but it doesn’t seem fatal.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank goodness.” I was so relieved, it felt like my entire body went limp.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady!” Tanya quickly reached out to support me, else I would have collapsed on the spot. “Are you all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes…” I tried to take deep, calming breaths to compose myself. I’d felt so dizzy that I thought I would pass out, but I was slowly returning back to normal. “I’m fine. I can go back in now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can’t let him stay any longer than necessary.” I wobbled a bit, then righted myself and began to walk. “I’m so sorry about that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine… You look unwell. Are you quite all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. To tell you the truth, I just received word that my father has fallen ill.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh dear…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Luckily, it’s nothing serious. But he is my father after all, so I’m incredibly worried. I shall be leaving the capital with all haste to attend to him. I’m so sorry to leave during your visit, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please don’t worry. Your father’s health is more important. I’m sure being far from him only makes you worry all the more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for being so understanding. When next you come, it will be my pleasure to welcome you to Armelia with open arms.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so our meeting came to an abrupt, unexpected end.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m going to the capital right away,” I told Sebastian as soon as Hafiz left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He and Tanya both gave me concerned looks, no doubt due to the fact that I’d almost collapsed once again after our Acacian friend left. I currently lay reclined on a chaise lounge resting. I could tell both of them were wondering if I was even up to making the journey, so I gave them a wry smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry. I’ll feel better once I rest. He’s quite cunning, isn’t he? I certainly never expected Prince Khadir to pose as an envoy to visit me personally.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sebastian and Tanya both balked when they heard my comments. I could hardly blame them; after all, unbeknownst to them, they’d just been in the presence of a foreign prince.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-are you certain about that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fairly, yes. He was wearing a ring with a falcon crest on it, wasn’t he?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes…” Sebastian agreed. He was the one who had seen the documents from “Hafiz.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In Acacia, each member of the royal family is endowed with a unique family crest, and it’s their tradition to wear the mark somewhere.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You know the prince’s crest, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. But I do know that falcons are regarded as sacred in Acacia, so it wouldn’t surprise me if one were used for the prince’s crest.” I’d acquired this knowledge from documents Rehme had gathered for me from both records kept by former governors of Armelia and information she’d received because of the recent increase in trade between our two kingdoms. “Besides, remember what he said? The prince had come to propose to me—not that he was going to come. And he had all the proper documents in order.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forgive me for being presumptuous, my lady, but…don’t tell me you’re going to accept?” Tanya asked, looking terribly concerned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled ruefully at her. At first, I’d simply been shocked by his proposal. But now that some time had passed, in the back of my mind, I was calculating the possible advantages of this union. We were separated by the sea, but the kingdom of Acacia was large, about the same size as Tasmeria. And it would be of great benefit to me if Armelia served as a bridge to their kingdom—both for Tasmeria, my family, and Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was much more in line with my personality to choose a marriage that was chock full of benefits rather than to wallow in a love that could never come to fruition. One day, the pain I held in my heart would be nothing more than a memory, which I would be able to dismiss with a laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“However, I can’t say anything else on the matter until I consult with Father,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d already reached a decision in my mind, but my heart wasn’t going to be as easy to convince. It kept telling me to give it a little longer. Just a little bit longer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Don’t extinguish these feelings that have just begun to bloom! it cried.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did it go, Prince Khadir?” the kindly old man asked a younger one, who smiled. This smile was completely different from the one he had shown at the Armelia estate; there wasn’t a hint of kindness in it. It exuded a certain ferocity.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did what I set out to do,” he said as he took a seat on the ornate sofa. It was lower than the ones in Armelia, and much softer too, so his body sank down into the cushions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that right? Your old grandpa was so worried, it must’ve taken a few years off my life! Do me a favor and don’t tease me for a while.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t. I’d be in trouble without you, Gramps.” The man—Khadir—laughed heartily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Still, you certainly got back early. Are you sure no one recognized you…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, the girl knew I was the prince the moment I introduced myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?! She recognized you, yet she sent you home without making you welcome first?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She received word that her father had collapsed, so she had no choice. She said she would welcome me with open arms ‘next time.’ She also implied that it was better that I didn’t reveal my identity. She’s quite interesting.” Khadir chuckled, clearly in high spirits.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She sounds pretty gutsy, eh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir picked a piece of fruit from the plate next to him. They were on a ship now, and it had already embarked. Occasionally, they felt the gentle sea breeze blowing in through the window. “Fascinating, right? Gramps…I really want her now,” he said cheerfully as he licked the fruit juice that dripped down his hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, then, did you give her the papers?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. But whether I welcome her as my wife or my mistress depends on what position she’s in when I return. At any rate, I’m amazed by her ability to govern. I’m sure she’d much rather display her power than be a noble from a ruined country.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is the king serious, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I talked him into it. My father’s greed is causing quite a bit of trouble. For him to give himself over to every single desire he has at this age is just incorrigible,” Khadir said, not looking troubled in the slightest. In fact, he wore an amused smile. “I’ve heard there are some tough guys in Armelia, but I’m interested to see just how much they’re capable of, what with their troubles at home and abroad.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m rooting for them, if only because they’re a great trading partner.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey now, Gramps. Make sure no one else sees you rooting for an enemy kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know very well who to show my cards to. You don’t care whether they win or lose. Isn’t that right, Prince?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir’s only response to the old man was a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The boat carrying the two of them kept on course, its sails billowing in the wind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 8",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 19: The Duke's Daughter Sets off Sparks",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 19:The Duke’s Daughter Sets off Sparks",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "AFTER THE UNOFFICIAL VISIT from Acacia’s prince, I headed for the capital just as I said I would. I had to rearrange my plans, but I’d fortunately already seen to the most important ones. Most of all, I’d left the household in very capable hands. The bureaucrats and merchants stepped up to the plate without complaint.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Only Madam Crejours was upset. Obviously, the dress I ordered wouldn’t be ready in time, so she’d have to send it along later. I’d had Tanya tell her I had to leave sooner than expected, and she came all the way to the estate to cling to my arm, tearfully swearing that she would ensure the dress reached me and urging me to please wear it. So much had happened since I ordered it, I’d almost forgotten I’d done so at all, so it really wasn’t a big deal to me. But once the madam clamped onto my arm, she showed no signs of letting go, so much so that even Tanya wasn’t sure how to respond to her emotionality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We proceeded to the capital with utmost haste, going to the mansion as soon as we arrived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Father!” The servants brought me to his bedroom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris…” My father looked surprised to see me show up so suddenly. “Ah!” He started to sit up, but then he grimaced with pain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please lie back down, darling!” My mother was sitting in a chair next to him and quickly rushed over to support his back, then eased him down onto the bed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How are you, Father?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s nothing major. Everyone’s making a fuss over nothing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d hardly call a wound that nearly penetrated your organs a fuss over nothing!” My mother spoke in a voice so fierce that it echoed throughout the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course I was shocked by the severity of my father’s wounds, but to be honest, my mother’s intensity shocked me even more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought my heart was going to stop. By the time I finally arrived, you’d already lost so much blood, and you were struggling to breathe. And yet the second you sat up, you said you were going to work! I beg of you, please just take care of yourself more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Merry, I hate worrying you. But I have to go. House Marea is using Queen Ellia to interfere with government affairs. I must serve as the palace bureaucrats’ shield and protect them before the government comes to a standstill.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re being held back at a critical moment; not only are you their shield, you are their hope. If they lose you, then they will lose hope forever. And I wouldn’t be able to live if I lost you like this either…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Merry…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Darling…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although I was truly grateful that my parents were so close, I suddenly felt extremely out of the place in this tender scene.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Um, Mother…” I didn’t want to interrupt, but the conversation had come to a lull. “How are Father’s wounds?” I knew if I asked him, he’d just tell me he was fine, so I turned to my mother for the most honest response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I’m so sorry, Iris. Your father must remain on absolute bed rest for a while. His wounds haven’t fully closed, so if he pushes himself and they open, it could be quite dangerous.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You must’ve been so worried, you dropped everything and rushed here. Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing my father express his gratitude warmed my heart. I head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was something I wanted to ask him. Something that had been on my mind the entire journey here. But I was too afraid to speak…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yet just as I had the thought, he spoke:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris, there’s no reason for you to be upset. This isn’t your fault.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father guessed what was on my mind before I could even articulate the words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But Father, remember what you said before? You told me to be careful of House Marea. Are you certain it’s not my fault that you were targeted?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We don’t know who was behind the attack.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And that’s my fault,” said my mother. “I ordered the deaths of everyone involved, and the only ones left were their minions, who were unable to give us any valuable information at all.” My mother reported this apologetically.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father smiled gently. “If you hadn’t saved me, I’d be dead by now. And because I’m so grateful to you, I have no intention of finding fault with your actions. I just wanted to tell Iris that since we don’t know who is responsible, she shouldn’t blame herself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even if we find out House Marea was to blame, it still won’t be your fault. I’m doing everything I can at the palace so that you can continue governing. To that end, I’ve personally challenged House Marea many times. There’s no reason for you to feel any sort of responsibility for this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Father…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More importantly, Iris, I’ve heard you’ve had quite a rough time yourself.” He reached out for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I sat on the edge of his bed; he rested his hand on top of my head and began to stroke my hair. How long had it been since he’d last done that? “It’s nothing compared to what’s happened to you, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It isn’t a contest, you two,” my mother scolded. “You’ve both had your fair share of hardships. Anyway, darling, I realize that Iris is worried about you, but you need to rest. You must be exhausted.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father let out a wry chuckle and murmured, “I can’t win against you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be back, and then we can sit down and have a nice, long talk,” I promised.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As far as I could tell, my father was acting completely normal. If I hadn’t known about his injuries, I never would’ve guessed. Sitting there and watching him wouldn’t change anything, so I agreed to leave the room to let him rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Luckily, his condition was still stable the next day, so we were able to talk. We discussed everything that had come to pass since the last time we saw each other: my encounters with the Boltik family to the east, Van’s conspiracy against me, everything that had happened with Dorssen, my catastrophe mitigation projects, the new insurance system we were developing, and so on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Obviously, I’d sent him word about all these things, but this was the first time we were able to talk in person about them. It was also a good opportunity to tell him about the prince from Acacia who posed as an envoy to propose. I handed him the relevant documents, and he let out a deep sigh, followed by another.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew I’d just run into one incident after another, but this particular situation involved the entire kingdom, which meant I was obligated to alert the royal family. But even though my father was the prime minister and the duke of Armelia, he was for a moment rendered speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you’re asking my opinion as the prime minister, I’d say you’d be hard-pressed to find a better offer. And as the duke of Armelia, I’d say I wouldn’t want to give up your talents to another country. In fact, I’d love to have you as an advisor. But if you’re asking my opinion as your father, then I want you to make your own decision—one you’ll be comfortable with. In other words, all I wish for is your happiness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That response made me wonder where his good sense as a noble had gone. At the same time, I realized I was no closer to knowing my own response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the moment, it didn’t matter. Hearing him wish for my happiness, and everything that meant, brought tears to my eyes, and they slid down my face.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The detached palace lacked the glitz and glamour of the main castle, but it was a grand affair with a tranquil aura. Berne had arrived at it for the first time, so he walked through it slowly, looking all around and observing all its details. The reason for his visit was an errand for his father, Louis de Armelia. The errand in question was quite simple—all he had to do was deliver a letter to the queen dowager, who resided there.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Louis had told him: “No one may see the contents of this letter. Not even a trusted servant.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It must be incredibly important if Father said that, Berne thought to himself as he patted his breast pocket, which contained the letter. Perhaps his father feared betrayal, or perhaps learning the contents of the letter would endanger anyone who knew them? But judging by his father’s total and explicit trust in their servants, Berne thought the latter scenario was more likely.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their servants were ordinary citizens. No matter how far they had been trained in self-defense, it wouldn’t take much for a skilled enemy to crush them. Berne had a feeling that this was what his father feared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once he was inside the detached palace, a servant showed him the way and led him to the queen dowager.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My, I certainly never expected to see you here,” she said at the sight of him. “That must mean Louis is in bad shape indeed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, my father is only erring on the side of caution and recuperating at home; his wounds aren’t life-threatening. Actually, he wanted to come here today himself, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Instead, he gave me this to deliver to you.” Berne took out the letter and handed it to a servant.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager took it from the servant and read the contents. The instant she looked down at it, her face changed. Her soft expression tightened and became that of a stern ruler. The sudden change in her demeanor filled Berne with tension.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you know what this letter says?” she asked after she read it, and Berne shook his head. “Not a word of it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, nothing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Louis certainly has a soft spot for his children.” The queen dowager laughed out loud, but her eyes were cold. She regarded Berne as if she were sizing him up, which made a cold sweat run down his back. “Or perhaps it’s because you’re in a different camp than your father?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I don’t know what you mean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? You and Edward have been friends since you went to school together, no? I thought you belonged to that little coterie centered on Yuri Neuer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did get along well with Prince Edward…but I am of House Armelia. I take pride in the fact that I come from a long line of prime ministers and governors of the duchy. So my first priority is the stability of the government.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then you want Edward to succeed the throne as soon as possible?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. If the first prince protects and abides by the laws of the kingdom, then I think by all rights, he should succeed. Furthermore… Ah, it’s nothing. Forgive me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing you say here shall pass my lips again. Go ahead and speak your mind, child.” The queen dowager urged Berne to continue.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Following my graduation…I was given the chance to reflect on my actions. After thinking deeply, I came to the conclusion that I was extremely proud to be a member of House Armelia and that I loved my family. Yet I almost destroyed them due to my foolishness during my time at the academy.” Berne wore a wry smile as he spoke. “So, I decided I can’t afford to make any further mistakes. I don’t wish to hurt those important to me, and since they’re important to me, I want to protect them. That was the decision I made.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And that was why he could no longer back Edward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "First, the prince had broken his engagement with Iris. Then he had backed the church during Iris’s excommunication, then harassed the Azuta Corporation, and then raised tariffs on Armelia. While Edward had only directly participated in the harassment of the company, and by breaking his engagement, none of it would have happened without his influence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne was grateful for all the things that had happened in his past, but he was also unwilling to let sentimentality prevent him from protecting the people most important to him. He was terribly serious about his decision.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you’d choose your family over the future of the kingdom?” the queen dowager asked in a sharp voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry.” All Berne could do was shamefully bow his head. A heavy silence filled the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager’s soft chuckle broke the silence. “That way of thinking is rather naive and unbecoming of a ruler. However, can someone who cannot protect those important to them protect their realm? Ho ho ho. I can’t fault you for it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne involuntarily let out a sigh in response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At present, the nobles of this kingdom are divided into two factions,” the queen dowager went on. “One backs the first prince and the other backs the second. Leading the first prince’s faction is House Armelia, influential local lords, and newly titled nobility. Those backing the second prince are led by Queen Ellia and House Marea, along with the older noble families. The two factions are facing off against each other while maintaining an equilibrium. Now, what faction do I stand with?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne didn’t have an answer. Or, to put it more accurately, he couldn’t answer. Not only was he unsure of the truth, but this wasn’t the place to offer it carelessly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The correct answer is that I’m neutral, but leaning toward the first prince,” she informed him, knowing why Berne held his tongue. “I gave the first prince refuge, raised him as my own, and brought him up knowing the future held precisely this chaos. Why do you think that was?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To prevent the nobles from growing too impudent?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Go on.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne chose his words very carefully. “If the second prince overthrew the first prince and assumed the throne, there wouldn’t be as much disorder. But if that happened, the nobles would grow too powerful for the king to control, and you thought that would shake the foundations of the monarchy. Is that correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Even still, I stood with the neutral faction, ready at any moment to abandon the first prince if he showed the least sign of foolishness. Instead, he surprised me with his abilities. So, I did nothing. But because of that, people think I am as aligned with him as a certain other house that has never publicly come out in support of him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne knew she spoke of his family. He chuckled wryly within the confines of his mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Contrary to popular belief, the second prince’s faction does not view House Armelia as its greatest obstacle. Rather, although I’ve retired from palace life, I am still a member of the royal family and carry great influence—I am the largest thorn in their side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you saying you’re being targeted just as my father was…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they strip me of my authority as a member of the royal family. Your father and the first prince were working to prevent that. That’s what the letter says.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And now that I’ve read the letter, I can answer. I want you to give Louis this message: ‘Don’t worry about me. You return to the duchy and rest.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-what?! But why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The king has only a month left, at most. After he dies, House Marea will make their move. Louis isn’t expected to make a full recovery within a month, correct? He nearly died. I can’t have him pushing himself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then the queen dowager said, “I never thought Ellia would lay a finger on the king…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne’s breath caught in his throat when he realized the meaning of her words. “Are you certain of that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. It’s true that His Majesty collapsed, but he was on the mend. Physically, at least. He was still as heartsick as ever, of course. But for the doctor to suddenly say he has but a month? There must be something else at work here. I have other…circumstantial evidence as well.” The queen dowager bit her lip as she uttered that last sentence. It seemed that she lacked irrefutable proof, which meant she couldn’t directly go after House Marea, and that must have frustrated her. “Because I love him, my hatred grew even deeper when my ire was stoked. At any rate, we don’t have time, what with Louis’s condition, and since the first prince has been sent to another kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Which one?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a secret. But now I think it’s for the best. I can’t exactly say that the kingdom is safe, but it’s better that he be somewhere else while all this is going on. Not to mention, he feels responsible for what happened to the king.” The queen dowager hid her mouth behind a fan and let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But what will you do, Your Majesty?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well… I have decided to bet on the new generation—on him, no matter what. So I have no regrets.” As she declared this, the gleam in her eye only brightened. “Berne, make sure you deliver my message to Louis.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His audience with the queen dowager over, Berne quickly left the palace. While he walked the path back to his carriage alone, his gaze stopped on the impeccably manicured garden. Normally, he was consumed with his work as his father’s assistant, but occasionally, he would take a break and relax in the garden. He did so at the recommendation of his older sister, Iris. She said being out in nature would help ease his mind, and looking at things from a distance would let his eyes rest. He wasn’t sure if that was true or not, but she certainly seemed to believe so, and thus he had tried to make a habit of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As he looked out in the garden, he noticed a woman in the distance, sitting by herself. He was concerned to see her sitting directly on the ground, so he went over to her and said, “Excuse me… Are you feeling all right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Eeek! Ah, I’m sorry!” She must not have heard him approaching, because she let out a shriek of surprise. She turned toward him, her beautiful golden hair falling over her shoulder. “I was just thinking…” The girl looked embarrassed and turned her green eyes downward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry for interrupting you while you were deep in thought. I was concerned that you had taken ill.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No… I don’t blame you for thinking that. I’m sure that’s what it must look like. I thought perhaps if I came out to the garden and sat here, it would clear my mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…” Berne chuckled, remembering his sister.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The woman looked uncomfortable on hearing him laugh; perhaps she thought he was laughing at her because he thought her behavior unsightly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me,” he said. “It’s just that I remembered my sister saying the same thing, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She told me that coming out to the garden would ease my mind and help me think of things from a new point of view. So at her suggestion, I’ve often come out to the garden myself, when I have free time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, really?! When I can’t think clearly, it feels like I’m lost in a maze, thinking the same thing over and over again. Then I start to dwell on the most negative thoughts. But when I come out here, I can clear my mind, and things seem so much simpler.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s true. I’ve realized that even taking a short break is better than not taking one at all.” When Berne saw the cheerful smile on the woman’s face, he couldn’t help but smile as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Letty. And you are…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m Berne. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Likewise…” Letty smiled softly at him. “Do you speak with your sister often?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you ask?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just curious. I have an older brother as well, so sometimes I wonder how close other siblings are.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t think our case would be very helpful to you. Right after I entered the academy, I stopped speaking nearly so often to my sister. On top of that, something I did to her at that time…it left a very deep scar on her heart, one which I suspect will last her entire life.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you regret it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t say such a lighthearted thing. Merely regretting the past can’t possibly atone for it. All I can do is feel remorse and ensure I never make the same mistake again. Although, I do want to grow to the point where I can help her when she needs it.” Berne chuckled with chagrin. “Although, my older sister is so formidable that I’m not sure I can grow strong enough to ever be in the position to lend her aid.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive me, I’m just going on and on about myself. What about you, Letty? What’s your relationship with your brother like?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s wonderful. It’s just…well, perhaps we’re in the same situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All he does is protect me, and it’s so painful for me. That’s why I want to help my brother so much, but instead he does everything all by himself and says he doesn’t need my help.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If only I had been born a boy, then I could’ve stood with my brother as his equal,” Letty murmured, casting her gaze downward. Her voice was so full of emotion, it made Berne sad to hear it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For a long time, I was skeptical that women could do the same work as men,” said Berne. “Well, actually—maybe I wasn’t doubtful at all. Maybe it was just that only men were in my line of work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A gust of wind blew past, picking up flower petals from the garden and carrying them on the breeze. Letty lifted her face, either prompted by the wind or reacting to Berne’s words. Her gleaming golden hair billowed in the breeze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But watching my sister made me realize that what matters most when it comes to doing a good job is a person’s abilities and their mettle. In that regard, a person’s gender is trivial. Actually, my sister’s point of view as a woman introduces a new perspective that we haven’t seen before. Half of this kingdom’s population is women; it would be strange if we never took their opinions into account. So really, I don’t think good work has to do with someone’s gender, but more the strength of their will. If you want to help your brother, I’m sure you’ll be able to find a way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Letty’s eyes went wide with surprise for a moment, then she smiled happily. She looked like she’d come across a powerfully interesting idea. “That’s true. I know a woman who’s extremely capable in her work as well, so I don’t know why I’m feeling so insecure about it,” she said, then added quietly, “I wouldn’t expect anything less from Duchess Merellis’s daughter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, she said it so softly that Berne didn’t hear her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so glad I got the chance to talk to you,” Letty declared. “I’d love to do it again sometime.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m pleased to hear that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please let me know the next time you come to the palace. This is where I normally work. If you ask for Letty, someone will come fetch me right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Berne agreed, Letty smiled at him once more and then left. He watched her go, then finally returned to the Armelia mansion.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, Lyle and Dida had entered the castle grounds. “So what if they’re getting a new knight commander? Why’d they call us here?” Dida complained, dragging his feet.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Normally, Lyle would admonish him for such behavior, but instead he merely frowned and stayed silent. He was dragging his feet just as much as Dida because he secretly agreed with him. He was just as irritated and didn’t understand why they had to come.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The duke of Armelia had just been attacked; neither of them wanted to leave Iris’s side for even a moment. That was why they had already declined to come several times. But the new knight commander wouldn’t relent. In fact, their presence had been requested along with General Gazell’s. The general had carefully considered their feelings, so he hadn’t mentioned it to them. Thus, when they heard about it via the letter which had been delivered by a knight, they had both been powerfully angry.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But neither of them wanted to cause trouble for their master, despite being highly annoyed by the entire situation. Therefore, the two of them came to the capital to get it over with. Regardless, neither could hide their bad moods as they strode through the castle grounds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am Lyle, here on behalf of the duchy of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Likewise here on behalf of Armelia, I am Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They both said as little as possible as they entered the room designated for the knights. A few of the men raised an eyebrow at their attitudes, but most of them looked toward them with a sympathetic eye. It just went to show how highly unusual the circumstances were.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ahh, Lyle and Dida! You came!” The new knight commander welcomed them cheerfully. “Take a seat right there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They obeyed the commander and sat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name’s Sertreau Meleze, and I am the new knight commander. I’ve heard a great deal about you both. Pleasure to meet you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of them remained expressionless while Sertreau beamed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well? What did you want from us?” Lyle asked in a voice so low that it almost made the ground rumble, clearly expressing his discontent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida was honestly a bit surprised; it was unusual for Lyle to display his emotions like this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no need to rush. Why don’t we just relax and have a nice, long chat?” Sertreau was a bit bewildered, but the smile on his face didn’t falter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, this made Lyle’s mood—and Dida’s—seem even more hostile. Those knights in the room who were familiar with them tensed and backed away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We told you several times that we didn’t have time to come here. Yet you kept pushing for us to come with no regard to our situation. On top of that you want to ‘relax’ and have a ‘nice, long chat’? Is that why you bothered General Gazell, a national hero?” Lyle’s anger had reached its peak. He could have killed a person with the daggers shooting from his eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was enough to intimidate even Sertreau, who stiffened in his seat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you want from us?” Dida asked, knowing he had to move the situation along.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah… I just heard so much about you from the former knight commander, so I was hoping you’d join our order…” Sertreau had strategized a great deal in advance, devising ways to persuade these two men. None of his predecessors had been able to accomplish it. He’d believed he was different, that without a doubt, he would be able to win their favor. But the aura they emanated made clear that his hopes had been dashed from the start. And before he knew it, Sertreau had blurted out the true reason for their invitation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’ve heard about us, then I assume you’ve also heard that we’ve declined that request many times before?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even though the air in the room was already glacial, Sertreau thought he felt the temperature drop even further. “If it’s about the pay…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It has nothing to do with the pay. I serve one mistress and one mistress only. Nothing anyone says will change my mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The same goes for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sertreau was left stunned by this blunt refusal.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Staying here any longer would be a waste of our time, so we’ll be going now,” said Lyle. “Our mistress and the general have lodged a complaint on our behalf regarding this incident. We’ve already received approval from the queen dowager to continue serving House Armelia, and we have requested that we no longer be forced to entertain further invitations such as this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sertreau’s shoulders dropped at Lyle’s parting words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle and Dida left at a faster pace, now that they were on their way out. Although they both remained silent, the mood between them was much calmer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, if it isn’t Lyle and Dida!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But their moods fell once again when someone stopped them. They suppressed those feelings as they both bowed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Raise your heads.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was the second prince’s fiancée, Yuri Neuer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We couldn’t possibly be so rude in front of the prince’s fiancée…” Both of them inwardly wondered what a woman was doing at the knights’ headquarters.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you two doing here? Oh! Don’t tell me you’re finally going to join the knights?” Yuri’s voice was cheerful, a marked contrast to their moods.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No…” said Lyle. “We are unworthy of the service.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not true! I’ve heard many stories about your strength—both of you!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two remained silent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri kept talking. “Crime and banditry have continued to increase within the kingdom. That’s why I need your strength. I’d be able to work so much harder if I had the two of you to protect me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re terribly sorry, but we have only one mistress,” said Lyle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We want to protect her because she cares more about protecting her people than herself. Therefore, we support her and give her strength,” Dida continued. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two bowed and left Yuri behind, rushing out of the castle grounds as quickly as they could. They hurried back to the Armelia mansion, letting out sighs of relief as soon as they arrived.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What was she doing there?” Dida asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No idea,” Lyle said. “But how dare they try to recruit us knowing that we’re already devoted to our mistress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that they were back at the mansion, they conversed normally with each other. Without even discussing it, they headed to the servant’s parlor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Whoever loses has to make the tea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I made it last time, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That was last time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re already at the parlor, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Doesn’t matter what kind of game we play as long as it doesn’t involve a sword.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As the two of them bantered back and forth, they opened the parlor door. “Oh, you two are back already?” Tanya was inside, drinking tea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Tanya! Perfect timing. Make us some tea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you’re all right with herbal tea, I have plenty left in this pot. Go ahead and pour yourself a cup.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Whaaaat?” Dida grumbled, but he piped down under Tanya’s glare and quickly started making his own tea. In other words, he poured himself a cup from the pot. He went ahead and poured Lyle a cup too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle thanked him and took the cup as he sat down. “It was a waste of time,” he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I figured as much. They tried to recruit you again, didn’t they?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I swear, those knights never learn.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, they got a new knight commander now.” Dida joined their conversation as he leaned against the counter, sipping his tea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sertreau Meleze?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve looked into him. He was a knight in name only, and there’s absolutely nothing on him even though he’s the new knight commander.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A knight in name only? How’d a guy like that get to be the commander?” Dida asked with an exasperated chuckle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s Queen Ellia’s doing. Many of the knights belong to the second prince’s faction, which is doubtless why they wanted to hurry to recruit you two.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle’s face grew bitter at Tanya’s explanation. “Well, whatever. More importantly, we saw the baron’s daughter, Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Eh?” Tanya looked baffled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida nodded and added, “She tried to recruit us too. What in the world is she thinking?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that so…” Tanya let out a deep sigh, as if she were expelling all the air from her lungs. After Lyle and Dida detailed their meeting with Yuri, she stood. “I’m going to tell Lady Iris about your run-in with that woman.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks for that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After they agreed, Tanya left. Dida and Lyle finished their tea in silence, then went about their business.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Marriage, hm…”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the end, my father told me that I needed to run the proposal by the royal family before giving an answer. This wasn’t the sort of thing that could be decided quickly anyway, so I supposed there was nothing I could do about it. However, the problem with bringing the proposal to the royal family was determining whom to bring it to.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The king was ill and incapable of attending to his royal duties. Queen Ellia was out of the question. Neither of the princes had decision-making authority, and since one of them would become king, it might complicate the whole situation anyway.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That left me with the queen dowager… Though honestly, I wasn’t sure who presently held the power in the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady. Your dress has arrived from the madam.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Tanya helped me get ready, I was inwardly impressed that Madam Crejours had made it on time. I’d come up with the main design for the dress, but I’d left the details to the heated discussions of Tanya and Madam.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The dress was low cut, showing off my collarbones, with a gauzy, sapphire-blue silk draped over my cleavage. The silk was studded with pearls which gleamed every time they caught the light. The dress was cinched in at the waist, and the color was a gorgeous ombre that went from pale aquamarine to the same sapphire as on my decolletage. The pleated skirt rippled prettily with every step I took.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had specifically requested this ombre fabric from the madam. It was the Azuta Corporation’s newest product. She’d mentioned it would be nice to have something like that, so the product development team at Azuta had produced it after much research and experimentation. Apparently, the trick was in the dyeing process.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since the madam had come up with the idea, we had made a contract with her so that she would have priority for the fabric. I’d suggested that she receive a cut of the profits from sales, but she insisted that “just having this lovely fabric is enough for me.” I supposed that was just like her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wore my hair in a loose updo, fastened with a diamond clip. All I had to do now was put on my choker and I was done.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That night, I would be attending the first ball of the season, hosted by the royal family, which was the event that kicked off the social season in Tasmeria. Children of the nobility aged twelve to eighteen attended to greet the king and make their debut into high society. The closest thing I could compare it to in my previous life was a debutante ball. The reason it applied to such a wide range of ages was because the decision of when to make the child’s social debut was left up to each individual family. You see, after their debut, the child would be treated as an adult, with all the responsibilities that went along with it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, the earlier your debut, the more time you had to build up connections, but thereafter, you also wouldn’t be given any slack, since you were no longer considered a child. It was like offering up a sweet, innocent lamb to a lion’s den. Therefore, most families waited until their children were fourteen or fifteen and had a bit more worldly experience. After all, if you waited too long, people would grow suspicious and wonder if some kind of underlying problem was delaying your debut.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Personally, I had made my social debut at age thirteen. Queen Ellia had said there would be more advantages than disadvantages, and furthermore, Ed had also made his debut at that age. As I was his fiancée, it was decided that I should follow suit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was all a long time ago now, of course.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shortly after I finished getting ready, Berne arrived to escort me. “I’m sorry I made you wait.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not at all. Are you sure about this, though?” I asked, to which he gave me a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Escorting me tonight. I feel like I’m always asking favors of you, and I’m sorry for that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I did indeed always ask Berne to escort me when I had an official function to attend. Since I was so busy with work, I didn’t exactly have time to meet anyone to court. But at the same time, it would have been gauche to attend alone. My father had said as much to Berne when he asked if my brother role.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I wanted Berne to stop worrying about me and find a wife. Every time he came to an event with me, he stuck by my side so faithfully it was like he was my guard dog, even though a party such as this was the prime opportunity for him to meet someone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was especially looking forward to welcoming the next generation of the Armelia family due to my current position… Though these stray thoughts that led to memories of what had happened with Yuri made my head hurt. Thankfully, I felt that I was at last mostly over her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please don’t worry about that, Sister. You work so much, you don’t have time to find another escort.” Berne gave me a wry smile as he extended a hand. I took it and stood. “You look beautiful, as usual.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Many thanks.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We chatted with each other in the carriage as we headed to the palace. The gorgeous palace—even though I was in the midst of such a beautiful scene, my heart sank. Being brought here now felt like I was being led to the gallows. This was now enemy territory, where Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea acted as de facto rulers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I walked arm in arm with Berne as we entered the castle. Suddenly, it felt like all eyes were on us. I reacted calmly with a smile, but deep down, I cursed our onlookers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s so nice to see you again, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Likewise, Lord Sagitalia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I let out an inward sigh. I’d just set foot inside, and already I was wrapped up in conversation with some strong characters. Count Sagitalia was the minister of finance, though for some reason, he looked older than the last time I’d seen him. I wasn’t sure if it was on account of how many years it had been or because the rigors of his obligations had taken their toll on him. In case of the latter, it was no doubt due to the battle for succession. Or perhaps some other business within the ministry was plaguing him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was too afraid to ask. At the same time, what frightened me most was how easily I coaxed the truth from him during the course of conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How is Lord Armelia?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for your concern. Out of an abundance of caution, my father is at home recuperating, but he’s doing well. He’s taking it easy under my mother’s watchful eye, and I think he’s improved greatly because of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hrm, I’m glad to hear it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As a matter of fact, you’re looking quite pale, Lord Sagitalia. Are you so very busy of late?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Humph. Perhaps you’re right. To be honest, I’ve been considering going home to recuperate myself in a bit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My, is that so?” I did my best not to show it on my face, but I was so shocked that my heart skipped a beat. The word impossible! flashed through my mind. As the minister of finance, Count Sagitalia was often as swamped with work as my father, and he rarely had the time to return to his domain unless he specifically scheduled a holiday.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that the battle for succession had intensified, court was practically a game of musical chairs. Could he really afford to be away at such a critical time? To me, it sounded as if he were declaring: “Go ahead and oust me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And to think the last time I saw him, he was speaking so highly of the future the first prince would bring to us. He knew better than anyone that, as one of the most influential people in the first prince’s faction, it would do great damage to that prince’s cause if the count were ousted. That had to mean that the count had no other choice but to take a leave of absence due to the machinations of House Marea. At least, that was the most plausible explanation I could think of.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is this on account of my father’s collapse?” I glanced around and lowered my voice. Was the count worried about his own safety because of what had happened? I knew he would understand my implication.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes and no. The hustle and bustle of the city has exhausted me and my family. I wish to return to my domain and rest to gather strength for when I’m truly needed. Even at my age, I can’t let go of my dreams.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Judging by that comment, he wasn’t withdrawing his support from the first prince.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” I said. “But if you leave at a crucial time such as this, won’t that cause trouble for the rest of the people at the ministry? I’ve heard they’ve expressed discontent with the increasing price of food at the port.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You sound quite familiar with the goings-on at the capital. You’re probably right, but there’s nothing I can do about things that happen naturally. Nowadays these merchants are so sensitive, anyway…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t that the truth!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We looked at each other and laughed. But his eyes weren’t smiling, and I knew that mine weren’t either. We were paying careful attention, each sizing up the other’s true intentions and trying to discern whether the other had picked up the hidden messages concealed in our conversation. They say that sometimes, eyes speak louder than mouths.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, if you’ll excuse me. The others will be cross with me if I keep the belle of the ball all to myself.” With that, Count Sagitalia took his leave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could call myself nothing but satisfied with our conversation. I had asked him many questions that had been burning in my mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned and looked around the ballroom. It wasn’t long before I spotted a familiar face—Mimosa. I rushed over to her as quickly as I could without seeming unsightly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Mimosa! It’s so good to see you again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to see you as well, Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though we were close friends, we still had to observe certain formalities. This was a formal event, so Mimosa and I conversed differently than we normally would.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s nice to meet you, Lady Iris.” All of a sudden, a man stepped in front of me from the side and spoke. I wasn’t sure if he had curled his black hair on purpose or if it was naturally wavy. He had narrow eyes and a mole beneath one of them that stood out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was about to frown at him for this rude behavior, but I did my best to suppress it and smiled at him. The instant he spoke to me, Mimosa’s face went pale. It seemed almost like the color had left her eyes. I saw this out of the corner of my eye, and immediately a sour feeling rose within me. I had never seen Mimosa like that before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hello. I’m terribly sorry, but you are…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, didn’t Mimosa tell you about me? I’m Dan Rubellia, the eldest son of Lord Rubellia of House Rubellia, a very old and honorable family,” he informed me with a theatrical gesture. “I am also Mimosa’s fiancé.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was a formal, public event at the castle, the sort of event where one never spoke first to one of higher class—in other words, since he was the son of a count and I was the daughter of the duke and the prime minister, it was beyond bad taste for him to suddenly butt into my conversation. Furthermore, essentially every single person in this room hailed from “very old and honorable” families. I could have delivered a tidal wave of critiques to this man from his introduction alone. But the thing that had left me truly stunned was his last sentence.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was Mimosa’s fiancé?! Those were the only words in my head. I was the last person to criticize someone’s choice of a fiancé, and I really hated to think it at all, but in all honesty, my first impression of him was dreadful.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…you are?” I said. “I’m sure you already know, but I’m Iris Lana Armelia. Mimosa and I went to the academy together. It’s nice to meet you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Likewise.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dan seemed poised to say something further, but Mimosa interrupted him. “Lady Iris. Pardon me, but we have to go greet the other guests, so if you’ll excuse us…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-of course. I’m so sorry to keep you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As soon as I said that, Mimosa turned and left. Dan shot me a wry smile and shrugged, then quickly caught up to walk by her side. I watched them leave. Of course, if this was their first official social gathering together since becoming engaged, it was perfectly normal for them to do the rounds and say their hellos to everyone, but it had just seemed so abrupt when she said it. It was almost like…Mimosa didn’t want to talk to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once my thoughts reached that point, I let out a soft chuckle. Why was I so surprised? They were newly engaged. No matter how close you were to a friend, you didn’t really want them imposing on your new betrothed. For one, it would be highly inappropriate in public, but more importantly, I doubted Mimosa would enjoy it on an emotional level either. I could therefore understand why she might act a little unusual. It was nerve-racking to appear in public with your fiancé for the first time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course it had grown worse later, but even when happy to be Ed’s fiancée, I had been incredibly nervous at our first public event together, and it had made me uneasy to speak with other women. I decided I would try to meet with Mimosa later in private so we could catch up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I thought, I gazed absently toward the back of the ballroom. Just then, the music stopped, and the royal family appeared. Everyone in the room automatically bowed their heads, including me. The queen dowager entered first, followed by Queen Ellia and Prince Edward. Apparently, the king and the first prince would yet again not be attending. After Ed made his entrance, Yuri followed close behind. It looked like he was tugging on her hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What are you doing here?! I thought instantly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri was Ed’s fiancée, but she was still just his fiancée. She would be a royal, but since they weren’t officially married yet, it was absolutely unheard of for her to use the same entrance as the members of the royal family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To borrow a phrase from my mother: You never know what might happen before a wedding.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia had been queen for many years now, but before that, she was the daughter of a marquis, so she should have been more well versed in proper etiquette and protocol. The fact that the queen had approved this appearance just went to show that Yuri had truly captured her heart, just as she had captured those of the nobles who belonged to the second prince’s faction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If she hadn’t, there was no way Queen Ellia would’ve granted approval for this entrance. I wasn’t sure what exactly the queen felt for Yuri, but at the very least, the fact that Yuri had strong-armed her way into this appearance meant that her status in society was firmly cemented. And that sent a chill down my spine.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For the ball, she wore an ivory dress with a large, frilly ribbon on the bodice. Matching ribbons adorned the cuffs of her sleeves, with several layers of lace on the trim. It still resembled dresses she wore before, which emphasized her cuteness, but the design was showy and elaborate, akin to what a member of the royal family would wear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The royal family took their seats in the ornate chairs reserved just for them. Once again, the music began to play.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shortly afterward, the young men and women who were making their social debuts this year appeared. High society etiquette differed from kingdom to kingdom, but the customs and traditions of Tasmeria’s debutante ball were especially unique. During the afternoon, each young person set to make their debut had an official audience with the royal family to extend their greetings. Then at night, they made their debut in front of the kingdom’s nobility.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The young men wore a flower in their lapels, while the young women wore one in their hair. The flower was a light pink, resembling something like a corn lily in my previous world. I wasn’t sure if this flower symbolized the same thing in this world, but from what I remembered, it signified “great pride.” So perhaps the flowers meant, “Hold your head high and be proud as a noble.” Besides the flowers, the young women wore simple white dresses and the men wore formal black suits.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The men led their partners to the center of the room, and they all began to dance. After the dance was over, everyone applauded. Now the festivities of a usual ball commenced. Berne and I took our turn on the dance floor, and then I danced with a few of the men I’d met at Baron Messi’s party. After a few songs, I excused myself to take a break in the corner of the room. I held my champagne in one hand as I watched the other dancers. Berne had also decided to take a break, and he stood by my side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ed and Yuri were in the center of the dance floor. It seemed that they had been dancing too. Furthermore, since they were engaged, they danced every song with each other without switching partners. Mimosa and Dan did the same thing nearby. My eyes were glued to my friend as she moved, and a strange sadness came over me. To think that my best friend would suddenly feel so far away…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sister.” Berne’s voice pulled me out of my reverie. I was just about to ask why he sounded so tense, but when I followed his gaze, I got my answer. Just as one song ended and the other was beginning, I noticed that for some inexplicable reason, Ed was on his way toward us, Yuri in tow. I had no desire to speak with him, so I frantically looked around for someone, anyone who I could engage with instead, but unfortunately, there was no one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri already had her sights set on me, and she came straight toward us with a grin on her face. I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn’t have been able to escape her even if I had found someone else to talk to. The people around us had begun to notice their approach, and I heard a hushed silence fall over the room as all eyes turned to us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lady Iris. Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Likewise, Lady Yuri,” I responded with a smile that matched her own. Berne bowed but said nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve been hearing a lot about you from so many people, Lady Iris. You’re quite the workaholic, aren’t you? It’s a shame that you don’t make it to the capital very often, but everyone really misses you, you know. I see that Berne is your escort again tonight. Feel free to bring someone else for a change next time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, thank you ever so much for the helpful suggestion. I’ve heard you’ve been focusing your energy on your charities of late. I’d expect nothing less from Prince Edward’s fiancée. You had such a wonderful entrance into the ball.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hearing that from you gives me so much confidence! By the by, Lady Iris—once again, you’re wearing such a gorgeous dress. Is it another new design?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. I’m honored to receive a compliment from you, Lady Yuri. This is a new design done in collaboration with Azuta Corporation and Madam Crejours.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that right? I’d love to wear a dress like that, but I’m just not sure it would suit me as it does you… How could I possibly wear that design after you’ve pulled it off so flawlessly?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, you flatter me! But you know, we have other designs that would enhance your adorable features, Lady Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yuri, I think it’s about time…” Ed suddenly spoke up, interrupting our conversation. We made eye contact briefly, but he grimaced as if he had seen something utterly disgusting, then quickly looked away. At least he wasn’t trying to make snide comments like last time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right! If you’ll excuse us, Lady Iris.” Yuri and Ed quickly walked away, arm in arm.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Phew…” I let out a sigh, suddenly exhausted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would you like a new drink?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I’m fine. Thanks though, Berne.” I was grateful for his concern, but at the same time that meant the exhaustion was showing on my face, so I quickly drew myself up and regained my composure. Just then, a familiar face caught my eye. “Oh! It’s good to see you again, Rudy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was my cousin, Rudius Gib Anderson. “It’s been a long time, Lady Iris. Lord Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s unusual to see you at a function like this. Usually you say you’re too busy with work to attend such things.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was ordered to attend.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness!” I giggled at the exasperation in his voice. “Well, since you’re here, would you like to go over there and chat with us for a bit? Or do you need to continue making the rounds?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, that’s fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so the three of us went out to the balcony.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That looked a bit rough back there,” Rudy said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave him a wry smile. “I know. I have no idea what she was trying to accomplish.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You must’ve learned a lot from that conversation. Eh, Berne?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Ah, yes…” Berne said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave Rudy a confused look. “What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“About the facade women put on in public versus their true feelings. It becomes especially obvious to anyone who gets to watch a conversation like the one you just had with Lady Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does it? What did it sound like to you, Rudy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, what Lady Yuri really meant was, ‘How long do you plan on dragging your brother around to parties? You’re working so much you can’t even find a man.’ And then in response, you said, ‘That’s really rich, coming from someone who stole someone else’s fiancé. You’re really something else, pretending to be a royal even though you aren’t one yet.’ That’s about the long and short of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I laughed. “I think that’s pretty accurate.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was true that I had interpreted Yuri’s comments just as Rudy had, and that was what had prompted my response. Even as we talked about dress designs, I knew we had each been thinking cruel thoughts about the other.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You rarely come to events like this, but that’s not the impression I get from you at all. I genuinely think you’re amazing,” said Rudy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re complimenting me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Definitely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Rudy!” The three of us burst out laughing. It reminded me so much of our childhood days that a surge of nostalgia washed over me. “Seriously, though—it really does feel like I haven’t seen you in ages, Rudy. Was your boss mad at you because you haven’t been attending these functions at all?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, not at all. My boss is away on a sensitive job at present, and generally he prefers that I not come to such things, just in case my attendance is scrutinized because of who our grandfather is. So I’ve just been doing my work here in the capital instead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I see. I’m sure you’re under a lot of pressure working in the capital. There’s no room for error.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t that the same for you, Berne?” Rudy asked. Berne smiled wryly while Rudy continued. “I’ve heard you’re working quite hard. I’m sure you’re overwhelmed with all number of difficult tasks due to Uncle Louis’s state. In fact, I heard you’ve been doing almost twice as much your normal workload.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am doing quite a bit, but I still have to get Father’s approval for everything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, of course. Still, you’re doing a great job. That’s the Armelian blood in you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was quite surprised at their conversation. I’d known Berne was working under my father, but I’d had no idea he shouldered so much responsibility. I mused over how close my brother and my cousin remained to this day. Since House Armelia and House Anderson were so close, the cousins saw each other often during the social season. But Berne and Rudy were also close in age, which I was sure contributed to it a lot as well. Now they traded jokes and laughed with smiles on their faces, just as they’d done as small boys. As they grew older, they had fewer chances to see each other. I watched over them fondly; seeing them together like this really brought back memories.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me, you two.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Where are you going, Sister? I can come with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re coming with me to the powder room? Don’t worry. I’ll come straight back.” I left the balcony and headed back into the ballroom, then made my way to the ladies’ waiting room. At parties like this, there were always separate waiting rooms for ladies and gentlemen. One could take a rest or freshen up there. I was sure they were both a bit worried about me, but I really needed to take a break from the party before I did or said something that might cause a stir. I really was intending to go straight back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was eerily silent in the waiting room, despite the lively ball in full swing just outside. I’d assumed the ladies’ room would be packed, but there wasn’t another soul around. All of a sudden, I heard whispers coming from somewhere. Of course it wasn’t unusual to find people gossiping steps away from a ball such as this. I thought nothing of it as I started to walk past the room, but once I started to make out words, I stopped in my tracks.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dan, what in the world are you thinking, asking me to meet you here? I’ve got to get back to him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re no fun at all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The woman’s tone of voice was different than usual, and the man didn’t say her name, but I was certain that the woman was Yuri. And the man she called Dan was none other than Mimosa’s brand-new fiancé, whom I’d just met minutes ago.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "You’ve got to be kidding me, I thought as the blood drained from my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know you’re forcing yourself. You act so fake when you’re with him. I thought at the very least that you could relax and be yourself here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t ask for your help. I have to get back.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahh, please wait, Lady Yuri!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew it was her! I thought as soon as I heard her name, and I let out a sigh. And what did Dan mean by she “acted so fake” when she was around Ed? Did he know who she really was?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive me for making such a ridiculous excuse,” he said. “To be honest…I’m in love with you. That’s why I wanted to see you alone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I peeked through the slightly open door at the two of them. Dan was on one knee and had Yuri’s hand clasped in his. He planted a kiss on top of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You always get the best of me, Dan… I wanted to see you alone too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Lady Yuri…” His voice was strained with emotion as he swept her into his arms.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And she let him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m the daughter of a baron, yet my father told me to go find a good husband myself. I was lucky that Ed fell in love with me at first sight, but in exchange, I had to cast my true self aside. But you brought out the real me. That’s why I can always breathe easy when I’m by your side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was starting to think that Dan didn’t actually know Yuri’s true nature. To put it simply, I suspected that he merely believed that the way she was speaking now was her actual personality, and the way she usually behaved was nothing more than an act.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But now you belong to another woman…” Yuri trailed off sadly, and Dan hastily spoke up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My heart will only ever belong to you, though!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, I would have thought that I should ask Tanya to look into the relationship between Yuri and Dan, or to see if he or his family had any connections to Tweil, but that was the last thing on my mind. Because that was when it really hit me—Dan was Mimosa’s fiancé.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Up until this point, I had only idly thought that Yuri had gained another pawn. But this pawn was my most precious friend’s fiancé. And given the happy letter Mimosa had sent me, she genuinely believed that she loved him and was loved in return. When the truth of this matter was revealed, I wouldn’t be watching some stranger in pain. This was my friend, and she was being betrayed by her fiancé, just as I had been. Imagining what was in store for Mimosa made me see red.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I whirled around and made a beeline for the ballroom, determined to find her. The only thing I could think at that moment was that I had to speak with Mimosa.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Mimosa.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn’t take me long to find her at all; she was alone, leaning up against the wall.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s the matter, Lady Iris?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Will you come with me? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It won’t take long.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mimosa tried to decline, but I persisted. She seemed to realize it was serious, because she thought for a moment, then agreed to come with me, if only for a few minutes. I took her by the hand and led her to the first empty room I could find.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mimosa. Where is your fiancé right now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know. He said he was going to rest for a bit in the waiting room. He’s probably tired from having talked to so many people tonight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was right about one thing; he was in a waiting room, but he was with Yuri. I didn’t have to hear Mimosa tell me that to be sure of where he was, though. The reason I asked was because I was desperately hoping that somehow, some way, I had been wrong. That maybe it hadn’t been him after all. Some part of me still hoped that deep down inside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mimosa, I don’t know how else to tell you this…but I think it’s for the best if you break off your engagement.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you talking about? You know that there’s no going back now that we’ve just announced it publicly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s still time! He’s not right for you.” I wanted to tell her why, but I just couldn’t. The thought of hurting her was too much to bear—even though I knew that not telling her would also end with her pain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Stop it. I’m the only one who knows what’s best for me. If this is what you have to say to me, then I’m leaving.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mimosa turned her back on me, but I reached out and grabbed her hand. “Wait! He has an awful reputation when it comes to women. So Mimosa…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She roughly shook off my grip. Her reaction made my mind go completely blank.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t care,” she said. “Not as long as he comes back to me in the end.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as I saw the look in her eyes, it hit me. “Wait… You know, don’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mimosa’s eyes wavered slightly. “Who cares? I’m saying that it’s fine with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not fine at all! You’re my friend, and I care about you! I can’t support your engagement knowing you won’t be happy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“‘I decide my own happiness. And being with Edward makes me happy.’ You were the one who said that after I raised my doubts about Edward. And I’m happy being with Dan. So I don’t want to hear another word about him!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The reason I’m saying this is because of what happened with Ed!” I cried impulsively, my emotions surging. “Until the end, I honestly wanted to be happy with Ed! I thought as long as he stayed with me, I didn’t care what he did! I thought that my family could give him power. I stayed by his side because I thought I had an obligation to him. But it was all meaningless!” Tears ran down my cheeks. I could no longer control my feelings. “At some point, I started to fill my heart with darkness. And I hated myself for it, but that just made it worse. Mimosa, I never want you to feel that way.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris, your behavior is unbecoming of a noble,” Mimosa said, expressionless. “You thought you’d be happy just being by his side? You didn’t actually think that. You just wanted him to give you his heart in return, didn’t you? That’s not the conduct of a noble lady.” Her voice was calm. “We’re bluebloods. It’s our duty to carry on our family’s lineage and protect it. That’s why our mothers and grandmothers, and their mothers before them, married for political reasons. That is the responsibility of the nobility, isn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t respond. She was right.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it doesn’t matter to me how many women he has on the side, as long as he comes home to me at the end of the day. The most important thing about a political marriage is carrying on the bloodline. And if what I’m doing benefits my family, then I can’t think of anything that would make me happier. That’s why you had the wrong approach to marriage, Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her words cut into me like knives. “Are you sure about this, Mimosa?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I’d rather live with my feet firmly planted on the ground than chase after an unrequited love. That’s what I’ve made up my mind to do.” The conviction in her voice made me snap back to reality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. I’m sorry for meddling, then. If that’s your decision, then there’s nothing else I can say about it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mimosa smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. They almost looked sorrowful. “Well, I can’t keep him waiting any longer. If you’ll excuse me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She left without giving me the chance to answer. She probably didn’t want to hear it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You haven’t made up your mind at all…” I murmured to myself as I watched her go.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A marriage of convenience for political reasons was a natural thing for a noble to do. It was our duty. Even I was thinking of how I could use a marriage to the prince of Acacia to my advantage, after all. So I knew that this was all just my own selfishness. But still…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t want you to marry for your family. I want you to be happy.” I wanted to see the genuine smile on Mimosa’s face again, the one I’d grown up seeing every day.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I trudged back into the ballroom. So much time had passed since I left that Berne and Rudy were likely looking for me. I let out a soft sigh as I moved my heavy feet forward, one step at a time. Just then, I spotted a familiar face up ahead.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Lady Iris!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And of course, it was the last person in the world I wanted to see right then. Her carefree tone perfectly matched the bright smile on her face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Yuri… Whatever are you doing out here? I’m sure the prince is looking for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure he is. But I have business with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I raised an eyebrow, wondering what in the world she could possibly have to say to me. She sashayed over to me, then leaned forward to whisper into my ear. “You saw, didn’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t even have to ask what she meant, but I was so surprised that I automatically took a step backward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, it’s fine. It’s not like anyone would believe you anyway,” she giggled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An icy shiver ran down my spine like a snake slithering in the grass. I couldn’t argue with Yuri. If I raised a fuss about what I saw without any proof, it was guaranteed that everyone would say I was just trying to ruin her reputation—and then I would be the one under attack.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Remember what I said? Everyone’s so lonely here in the capital without you. So I asked the queen to at least make sure that your best friend wouldn’t be lonely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I bit my lip. If I hadn’t, the dark feelings inside of me would’ve exploded, and I would have screamed at her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You should worry about yourself and those around you. Or else I’ll be forced to do it for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was all Yuri said before she left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stood there alone, my hands clenched into tight fists. I have no idea how long I stood there for before I heard a voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s the matter, Sister?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You look pale as a ghost! Are you feeling sick?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudy and Berne found me standing there. As soon as I saw them, I thought I would burst into tears.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry! I chastised myself. “It’s nothing. I’m sorry. I was just feeling a bit dizzy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe you should rest for a bit longer?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I’m fine now. Let’s hurry back.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of them looked even more worried about me, but absolutely had to keep my true feelings hidden behind the mask of a smile, because my father had entrusted the good name of House Armelia to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I told myself that I had to pay attention and analyze the motives of the nobles at court and the balance of power. I had to charm them. I had to steel myself and elevate my own worth and presence. I had to carry myself as a true lady in the manner in which my mother had taught me. I had to control the room. I had to go to the different crowds and get them to tell me all manner of things, then circulate the useful information I gleaned to my family. I had to do this to show House Armelia’s power.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was what I had to do to survive in the lion’s den.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wouldn’t have said that the ball ended smoothly, but at least it ended. I got into my carriage and returned to the mansion. Berne sat next to me, looking out at the scenery.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How are you feeling, Sister?” he asked, having noticed my gaze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m feeling a bit dizzy again. I’m probably just tired. I’ll go to bed as soon as we get home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That might be for the best.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I quickly looked out the window to escape his look of concern and any other questions he might ask me. Silence fell upon the carriage once again. The clomping of the horses’ hoofbeats sounded especially loud now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, Berne?” I asked, breaking the silence. “Why did you fall in love with Yuri?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My brother looked at me, his eyes widening with surprise. “…Because I was dreaming.” But he quickly recovered, a sheepish smile spreading across his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dreaming?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. A dream that seemed so sweet, I lost myself in it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” A dream… That was possibly the perfect word to describe her. “Must one always wake up from a dream?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Once one thinks they must wake up, yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wondered if Dan would ever want to wake up. No one but him could know the answer to that. All I could do was hope that the time would come.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, we arrived at the mansion. I said my good nights to everyone and went to my room, where I immediately got into bed and lay down. I wrapped myself tightly in my blankets to try to stave off the tremors that ran through my body. At that moment, the emotion overriding all others within me was anger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was still too weak, and Yuri had only grown more powerful during my time away from the capital. I could never be sure if the sentiments others held toward her were genuine, but she’d still grown powerful enough that people no longer looked down on her as a baron’s daughter. She had bewitched people and built up her allies, and this was the result: I was powerless to help my friend. The only thing I had managed to do was be foolishly honest with Mimosa to the point that I almost begged her, which only ended in her hurt confusion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was frustrated with my own pathetic performance. I furiously raised my fist and started punching my pillow. The airy sound of the feathers filled the room. I did it again and again, searching for an outlet for my emotions. The pain distressed me to no end.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though I was lying down, my emotions were so intense that I didn’t feel sleepy at all. No matter how much I didn’t want it to be so, the darkness of night always gave way to the rising morning sun. I passed the night without sleeping at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Come morning, I let out a sigh and changed my clothes. I ate breakfast and went right to my desk to start on my work. I had a great deal of pressing business and reports that needed my approval. I had to focus, because I didn’t have much time to do work while I was at the capital. But I was just too tired to think straight. Actually, the real problem was probably that my emotions had carried over from one day to the next.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me,” Tanya knocked on the door and entered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya, there’s something I need to ask you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d agonized over whether to ask Tanya to investigate Mimosa’s fiancé the entire night. My father had cautioned me to steer clear of Yuri, and Mimosa herself had told me that she didn’t want me sticking my nose into her business. But I wouldn’t forgive myself if I never found out the truth, and I was sick of having regrets that came too little and too late. I could figure out what to do once I knew the entirety of the situation. That was the decision I’d made.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was my own selfishness that got Tanya involved. I knew asking her to investigate Yuri might put her in danger, and I thoroughly explained those risks to Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But when I was finished asking her my favor, she merely smiled and said, “Of course, my lady.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once Tanya received her secret mission from Iris, she immediately got to work. Of course she would use caution while investigating Yuri, but she was always engaged in dangerous business, so this job didn’t scare her in the slightest. Yet she was fully prepared to never let down her guard, not even for a moment.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn’t take long at all for her to gather information regarding Mimosa’s fiancé. House Dungley protected their personal information quite closely, so this just went to show that Tanya was exceptionally skilled at what she did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The problem was acquiring information concerning Yuri. Tanya tried every tactic she could think of, but she kept coming up empty. It was like all information on that woman had been very thoroughly erased, leaving only scraps that were too good to be true. Despite Yuri’s squeaky clean, adorable image, some very powerful person had to be backing her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya let out a sigh and turned a corner from the busy main street to a completely deserted back alleyway. She readied her hidden weapon and focused her senses on the presence she’d detected a few minutes ago. This always happened when she was trying to dig up information relating to Yuri.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She relaxed, and in the next moment, she moved as quickly as she possibly could. Her sudden disappearance must have startled the one watching her, because they froze. She aimed her concealed weapon, a very long, sharp, needle-like instrument, toward them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Waah! Stop, stop! I mean no harm!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her opponent seemed to be remarkably skilled. They immediately sensed that Tanya was moving toward them and made eye contact with her, raising their hands to prove their claim. Even so, Tanya did not drop her weapon, though she did stop to assess her opponent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was a man no taller than a youth, and he wore ordinary clothes that one might see on any commoner in any town. His keen, cat-like eyes were his only remotely noteworthy features. Otherwise, he looked completely unremarkable. If one saw him in a crowd, they’d think him nothing more than a young local.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really have grown,” the man murmured, sounding both exasperated and impressed, yet not the least bit frightened at having a weapon pointed at him. He introduced himself in a casual manner. “If you must know, I call myself Milo. Just don’t ask me who I work for. Oh, and the reason I said I call myself Milo is because it’s a fake name. But that’s what I go by just the same.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Was he oblivious to the fact that he was in danger? Or perhaps it would take a great deal more than this to make him feel truly at risk? Tanya let out a quiet sigh, thinking it must be the latter. “Why are you following me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because you’re poking around in my mark’s business. You stopped investigating her once before, so why did you start up again?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s none of your business.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, but it is! If you’re not careful, the people around my mark will start to get suspicious of you, and you won’t be able to win against them. What do you want to do, anyway?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean a deal, of course. I’ve already thoroughly investigated her and reported back to my master. I’m keeping my eye on her right now, so if she makes a move, I’m supposed to take care of it first. In other words, if you’re lurking around, it causes problems for me. You have no direct business with her. You just want to know her background and her motives, don’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya didn’t answer. That didn’t seem to bother the man, because he continued.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you just want to investigate her, there’s no need to get too close. So I’ll give you a hint.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A hint? Not information?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean, I could give you the information directly, but then you wouldn’t believe it. Correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya had to admit that he was right. “But if you give me a hint, what’s in it for you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? I already told you. I don’t want you poking around.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Surely that can’t be all.” Tanya pushed her weapon closer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Milo flashed her a sheepish smile. “No, no, it’s the truth! Let’s just say…part of it’s because I’m rooting for your mistress a little.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m—well, to be more precise, my master is—worried about her. For some reason, my mark holds quite the grudge against your mistress. The one who will suffer most because of it is this kingdom, although one might say it’s getting its just deserts… At any rate, the root of the problem is the kingdom itself. But your mistress is different. My mark is the one who instigated all this, and ever since then, she’s been harassing your mistress. And your mistress is the one who’s paid the most for it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was abundantly clear that the man knew exactly who Tanya worked for. That only made her more cautious. Despite his happy-go-lucky tone of voice, she couldn’t spot a single weak point in his defenses. She could tell that he was exceptionally good at what he did. If she had to fight him, the best she could hope for would be a draw.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you see, I’m worried about my master, who in turn is worried about your mistress. Speaking along the lines of alliances, I’m not on the enemy’s side. Therefore, I don’t mind giving you a hint. At a very reduced cost too. Especially since it has to do with your mistress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If Tanya challenged him right here and right now, she had less than a fifty percent chance of beating him. She decided that, in that case, she should prioritize getting what she could and retreating. “Fine, then. Go ahead and give me the hint.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Which would you prefer? The toughest information that requires the highest risk of death to attain or information that requires just, oh, an average amount of danger?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want details on both.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Both, hm? Well, it’s true that it might be prudent to hear details about both options before you decide whether or not to investigate further.” He spoke in an almost patronizing way as he cautioned her, but she gave him a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you talking about? Of course I’m going to investigate further.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Milo’s eyes widened in surprise at that declaration, and he suddenly burst out laughing. “I really want you! I really, really want you to come work for us. Is that greed the secret of your success? That’s fine. I’ll respect your audacity and tell you both.” He kept smiling, and Tanya silently urged him to continue. “But first, do you need me to explain the House Rubens?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya didn’t respond to his question, because she had a feeling that if she said even one word, he’d take some other kind of information from her without her even realizing it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s written right on your face. You already looked into them, didn’t you?” Milo grinned at her again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was so incredibly inscrutable that Tanya felt a cold sweat dripping down her back. But she was careful to school her expression; it was possible that he was trying to trick her into something.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m only joking. When you were investigating, I followed you to check your information. So, of course, I already know that you’ve looked into House Rubens. The hint I’m about to give you would be meaningless unless you already had that information. You’re just so stone-faced that I wanted to tease you. Seriously, though—will you stop with the expressionless act already?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya whipped her weapon toward him. He not only dodged it by only a hair’s breadth, but he effortlessly grasped her weapon and threw it aside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How do you know it wasn’t laced with poison?” she asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m resistant to most poisons. Plus, you’re clever, so you wouldn’t risk your life like that. You didn’t even throw it as hard as you could have, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya couldn’t help but let a slight, wry chuckle escape her lips. Milo was right; she hadn’t used her full strength. She had only wanted to test her visual assessment of his ability; she certainly hadn’t thought that he would be able to grab her needle without even dodging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, putting that matter aside—I’ll give you a hint about the dangerous one first,” Milo said. “You need to look more carefully into Divan, and especially the recent activities of his Ayler Corporation. Then, once you take all of that into consideration, look into a certain baron. Ask yourself why he doesn’t stay in the capital, even during the social season.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya listened and silently nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And now the easy one. Dig around in her guardian’s family history, especially the first wife who died. Security isn’t tight around her information, so you should be able to find what you need easily.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. That’s enough.” Tanya lowered the second weapon she had taken out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Milo smiled. “I’m glad you’re such a clever girl. I’d prefer not to fight in front of my master.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure. …By the way, is your master in the kingdom right now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Milo’s smile deepened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. In fact, they glinted so sharply that they would have sent a chill down the spines of any who saw it. “I don’t think you need to know that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? I’d love a hint about that too, but it’s fine. I have no other business with you, so if you’ll excuse me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm. I’ll excuse myself as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They both began walking at the same time, taking slow steps backward so as not to show their backs to each other.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After they’d put some distance between each other, they ran off in their respective separate directions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya headed back to the crowded main street. The instant she arrived there, she suddenly felt exhausted, as though all the tension she had been carrying exploded at once. At the same time, she thought: The first prince has an incredible pawn.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was, granted, only speculation on her part, but it was the most likely answer when she considered what Milo said about his master. Although it was still completely possible that everything he’d said was a lie. It might have all been the enemy’s plan to confuse her. However, everything Milo said added up. The main keywords he mentioned—Divan and the Ayler Corporation—were both connected to Yuri. It would definitely be advantageous to focus not on the actions of Yuri herself but on the actions of those who worked in the shadows behind her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The thing that stood out to Tanya most of all was that Milo had never once tried to attack her. He could’ve chosen to retreat the moment she sensed him, but instead, he followed her. It was almost like he’d wanted to have a conversation from the very start. But again, this was all speculation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya decided to reconsider Yuri’s connections to Divan, but there was something she had to take care of first. She had to make the mission Iris had given her the number one priority. Although, not even Iris knew what that mission was. She probably never even could have imagined it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya was headed toward the Dungley mansion, because Mimosa, Iris’s friend, had invited her there. Even though she had left very early, she barely made it on time, thanks to her run-in with Milo.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Dungley mansion had quite a different air than that of House Armelia. A servant showed Tanya to Mimosa’s private salon. “I’m terribly sorry for being late.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. I apologize for inviting you here on such short notice. Go ahead and take a seat,” Mimosa said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, but I shouldn’t…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m the one who asked you here. Besides, it’s easier to speak to you that way. Please, sit down.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya tried to defer, but if she said no again, it would have been rude, so she went ahead and sat down. “Why did you call me here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because you’ve gained Iris’s trust.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya was inwardly baffled by Mimosa’s response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I heard a great deal about you while we were in school together,” Mimosa went on. “About you, Dida, Lyle, and the others. I heard how you grew up with her, and she told me many stories that showed just how much she trusts you all. But you’re the only woman in the group whom I’ve met, right? And since I’m an engaged woman, if I needed to speak with one of her servants, it would be unsightly to call one of the men over… And that’s why I called you here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was clear that Mimosa was choosing her words very carefully.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a favor to ask of you. Of all of you.” The expression on her face was very serious. “If she tries to do anything because of me, I want you to stop her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean? Please excuse me for saying this, but I don’t believe you’re in a position to dismiss House Armelia’s power.” Tanya spoke simply because she knew she didn’t have to bother beating around the bush.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Moreover, she wanted to understand Mimosa’s motives. After all, she’d already been ordered to look into this engagement, and she’d finished doing so. She had learned, in essence, that Mimosa didn’t truly wish to go through with this wedding. The man Mimosa had written to Iris about, the one whom she had wanted to marry, was someone else entirely. But before they could become engaged, Queen Ellia had interfered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If they had already been betrothed, there might have been something to do about it, but it had been too difficult to turn down an offer from the queen when, at that moment, no one had officially proposed to Mimosa. Her sweetheart had an honorable reputation as a skilled knight, but his social status was otherwise meager. House Dungley and his family had been in no position to oppose the queen and House Marea. And so Mimosa had sorrowfully agreed to promise herself to the man Queen Ellia suggested for her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Iris found out, it was all too easy to imagine that she would try to take action. That was why Tanya had to know.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… So House Armelia already knows.” Mimosa smiled sadly. “In that case, I have all the more reason to beg for your help. Iris has a kind heart and a deep sense of responsibility. She might try to intervene. But she’s already in a difficult position, and that would draw even more attention to her. That’s why I don’t want her getting involved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know my mistress well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re friends, after all. Even though I spoke harshly to her, she’s truly a precious friend to me. And that’s why the very last thing I want is to stand in her way.” Mimosa’s voice was filled with determination. Tanya thought that she looked like a completely different person from the girl whose eyes had sparkled with delight while eating sweets at the Azuta Corporation’s café. “I made up my mind from the beginning. I am a noble, and I will accept a marriage of convenience. It’s simply realistic. So Tanya, if she makes a move, I want you to stop her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m merely a servant. Do you really think I can stop my mistress?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I do. Because she trusts you and the others.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Normally, servants didn’t dare remonstrate with their masters. But Mimosa was certain they could do it. Iris had grown up with the orphans she saved, and she would never part ways with them easily. At the academy, she’d told Mimosa all about their relationships, built on that trust. But most of all, Mimosa had witnessed the truth of that for herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Furthermore, it’s within her best interests to do nothing. As you’re so important to her…I’m sure you can stop her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She has good instincts, Tanya thought to herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Truthfully, Tanya and her comrades made all of their decisions with Iris in mind. If something benefitted their mistress, they would endure anything in order to make it happen, no matter how difficult. Conversely, if something would bring her harm, they would do anything to cut it down. In all honesty, none of them really cared about Mimosa’s situation. But if it was going to adversely affect their mistress, then they would do as Mimosa said and prevent Iris from getting involved. However…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive me for saying so, Lady Mimosa…but you’re not the only one who values your friendship. Lady Iris has already put several people to work to ascertain the truth about your fiancé. She wants with all her heart to address the situation. It’s true that we will do everything in our power to stop her from doing anything that isn’t to her benefit, but ultimately, she is the one who decides what she will do. If she wants the truth, it is our responsibility to put all our efforts into finding it. So unfortunately, I cannot make any promises to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… Your bonds with her are stronger than I thought they were.” Mimosa nodded, her expression conflicted.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been swamped with invitations to visit various houses ever since I attended the royal ball, so I was doing my best to visit as many families as I could. But honestly, all I wanted was to return to Armelia. Regrettably, since both my parents were indisposed, I had no choice but to stay in the capital. Most importantly, the economy in Armelia was stable. Our only concern was if Queen Ellia’s faction or Yuri made a move, and being in the capital put me in the most favorable position to deal with either of those events, should they occur.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The mood in the capital was one of disquiet. That impression grew stronger the more parties I attended. I could tell everyone was observing and assessing one another with utmost caution. I’d often described moving through the glitzy world of the aristocracy as walking into the lion’s den, but lately it felt even worse than that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, the capital couldn’t be the only focus of my attention. I had to look over reports and documents from Armelia, sign off on them, and give direction. Since I was so far away, it was important that I be highly detailed with my instructions in every matter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, I stopped writing. A thought had popped into my head: If I were to get married, I’d no longer be able to attend to this business. Acacia was a strictly patriarchal society. I definitely wouldn’t be allowed to work. Not only that, but I would have to leave Armelia. I’d always pictured myself not getting married and staying in the duchy forever. I certainly never imagined I would marry a prince and move to another kingdom. The thought of it opened a hole in my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Here, I was surrounded by Tanya and my other friends, and I had Dean by my side. I shouldered a great deal of responsibility and had faced many arduous obstacles, but the job was fulfilling in the extreme. I’d carried it out with everyone’s support. I really had thought these days would last forever, even though I sometimes spoke of Berne taking over for me, once he had a family of his own. I had never dreamed it would end in this fashion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re bluebloods. It’s our duty to carry on our family’s lineage and protect it. That’s why our mothers and grandmothers, and their mothers before them, married for political reasons. That is the responsibility of the nobility, isn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mimosa’s words echoed through my mind. She was horribly right. Every part of me, flesh and blood, existed for my family and the country. That was both the duty and pride of a noble. But…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dean…” The name slipped out of my mouth. I had an overwhelming desire to see him. At the same time, I didn’t. If I saw him and talked to him, I’d be able to forget this pain for at least a little while. Simultaneously, if I saw him, I would be racked with even more pain. I would be unable to give him up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew there was no future with him, yet I still yearned for one. I wished for it. Mimosa was right; I wasn’t acting like a noble. I’d really let myself get carried away with these feelings, losing myself to these thoughts when I didn’t even know how he felt. Once I’d realized I was in love with him, I’d just kept falling, deeper and deeper. I thought I’d learned my lesson after Ed, but it was true what they said: danger past and God forgotten.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I put down my quill for the moment. I let out a deep sigh, trying to shake loose the dark thoughts swirling within me. I told myself that now was not the time for such ruminations and tried to calm down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I opened my eyes, I poured my full attention into the documents before me. Time went by quickly after that, and I was able to take care of everything I needed to for the day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now on break, I picked up the letter I had received from Moneda. It was regarding the matter I had asked him to check on for me, about the dramatic increase in the price of goods in the capital. I had instructed him to investigate the companies that were involved in the inflation. Tanya had thought it would take him a while, but such was Moneda. He still had incredible influence with numerous companies.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that time, Tanya returned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, may I give you my report?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She informed me of the events leading up to Mimosa’s engagement. I was so shocked at the revelation that I was utterly speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady…?” Tanya looked concerned by my stunned expression.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m fine. I’m fine, Tanya. Go ahead and continue.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Still worried, she went on. “There’s one last thing. I have a message for you from Lady Mimosa.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You went to see her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, during my investigation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. And what is the message?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“‘Don’t intervene.’ She says she doesn’t want you to get involved.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya’s voice repeated in my head over and over again as I digested each word.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That sounds like something she’d say.” I chuckled wryly, bringing the smile back to Tanya’s face. “She probably told you that if I make a move, you’re to stop me. Correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya bowed her head in confirmation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Honestly, she’s so foolish.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was all I could say in response to Mimosa’s considerate request of Tanya. I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the tears from coming. I let out a deep sigh, trying to release all the emotions pent up inside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wouldn’t have cared if Mimosa used me, but she was right; it wouldn’t be easy for me to make a move. The Armelian name carried power, but there were a number of barriers involved with that. If I took action in this situation, there was a danger that the fight for succession would intensify even more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But if someone asked me if that were a good enough reason to abandon my friend, I would say no. She wasn’t someone I could just brush aside.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Back at the academy, after I had lost everything, Mimosa was the one person who had stuck by my side till the end. That was why she was important to me. If she hadn’t had my back, the rumors about me would’ve grown even worse. I cared for her just as much as she cared for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I closed my eyes and tried to sort through my thoughts. “Tanya, can I ask you to do me a favor?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anything for you, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks. In that case, I want you to deliver a message to Father Rafsimons. Under absolute secrecy, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll tell you the message after you finish your report. Please continue.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya merely stood there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You looked into everything I asked you to, correct? If not, then you would’ve said so in the beginning. Thank you so much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this, a brilliant smile spread across her face. “I do not deserve such praise, my lady. I shall tell you everything I found out regarding Lady Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shifted my frame of mind and listened to Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First of all, I looked into Divan and the Ayler Corporation again. He began his work in this kingdom several years before Yuri’s mother died. He covered his tracks so thoroughly that I was unable to find out specifics, but according to a servant girl of Lady Neuer, he visited Yuri several times. I have a hunch that these meetings occurred before Lord Neuer took Yuri in, back when she was a very young girl.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So it’s altogether possible that the man you mentioned after you investigated Yuri the first time—the one who came forward claiming to be a relative of Yuri’s—was Divan?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, perhaps. And Yuri’s mother worked as a lady-in-waiting at the castle on the recommendation of House Rubens. More specifically, she was recommended by the duke’s late wife, the princess of Tweil who married into House Rubens.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And if we add that to the information my father gave me when he warned me to stop investigating Yuri, it’s very possible that she was a spy from Tweil…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Actually, someone else also came to this conclusion and found out the truth.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Someone other than my father or another high-ranking official from the kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Lady Neuer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My eyes widened in surprise. Even though Lady Neuer was a mere baroness, she had somehow acquired top secret information of the sort that only working politicians generally knew.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As she grew apart from the man she loved, I’m sure she nursed a grudge against the woman responsible for that distance. Thus, she looked into her. The truth was too much for her to bear, and she made sure to prevent word from getting out. She removed Yuri’s mother from the castle under a veil of secrecy. That was probably when she demanded a pledge from Yuri’s mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. But Tanya…you tell me this as if you watched all of it happen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was highly probable that this conclusion was the truth, but the last time Tanya investigated the matter, she had spoken as if everything was nothing more than an educated guess. She’d found a lot of circumstantial evidence, but nothing solid. If something had changed, then I wanted to know the source of her information.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was detailed in the late Lady Neuer’s cursed bo—I mean diary. Lord Neuer’s security is extremely lax, so I was able to read it quite easily.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My cheek twitched when I heard Tanya almost call it a cursed book. The phrase “as she grew apart from the man she loved” sounded like something out of a tragic romance novel, so I had been honestly surprised when she said it. But it had probably come nearly verbatim from a line in the late baroness’s diary. I had a feeling that Tanya thought of it as a cursed book because it was filled with resentment toward Yuri’s mother, and both love and hate toward Baron Neuer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure everyone’s security seems lax from your perspective, Tanya. At any rate, why would she write such sensitive information in her diary? How utterly careless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, sometimes people just can’t keep certain things a secret.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That felt oddly true. Now that I thought about it, this secret would be too heavy to hold solely within one’s heart. Maybe she had wanted to force out the feelings inside of her in an attempt to erase them, or perhaps they were so overwhelming and dark that she had simply been unable to keep them contained any longer. I’d experienced something like that, so it wasn’t hard to imagine.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So in other words, it’s confirmed that Yuri’s mother was a spy from Tweil. And since Divan is an old friend of hers, he must have a connection to Tweil as well, and he’s likely come to this kingdom for a specific purpose.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s what I think,” Tanya agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out a deep sigh. I wondered how many sighs like that I’d let out in a single day. Just thinking about it made my head hurt.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri’s mother was a spy from Tweil. Either Divan was too, or if he wasn’t, he was still working for Tweil in some capacity. There was a cease-fire, but the war wasn’t over; Tweil was still an enemy kingdom. Obviously, he hadn’t come here just for a vacation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thinking of this connection gave me chills. Yuri was engaged to the second prince. She had furthermore shown herself to be a formidable foe, cutting down one powerful man after the other—and not just men. Now she had Queen Ellia under her thumb too. Sooner or later, she was going to leak every last one of our kingdom’s secrets to the enemy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No wonder I kept sighing. The faction headed by my father had kept this from happening for so long now, but my father was currently incapacitated. How long could they hold on without him?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What has Divan been doing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s been making the rounds, visiting nobles aligned with House Marea. He’s also buying up and selling food as the head of the Ayler Corporation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who are the allies of House Marea who he’s made contact with?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I made you a list.” Tanya handed me a document. I scanned it quickly, then compared it to the letter I had received from Moneda.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Looks like it’s all connected.” I was putting together a theory. Even though I had prayed I was wrong, there was no way I could deny it now. “Look at this, Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She examined the letter carefully. “This is the same list I gave you…but this is Moneda’s handwriting. Did you have Moneda look into this too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In a way. I had him look into a separate problem—the sudden increase in the price of food. Moneda still has a deep connection to a number of related companies, so I asked him to look into it. It seems that the corporations who bought up the goods in question were middlemen who received orders, so I asked him who had placed those orders. Furthermore, the nobles aren’t channeling their usual funds through their middlemen to buy up the grain. Instead, they’re raising taxes to pay for the food. All the families involved are named on that list.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In other words, Divan is buying all the food he can get his hands on.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I think he’s buying all the food each noble family has stockpiled. In order to compensate for that loss, they’re in turn buying whatever foodstuff is put out for sale on the market. But the market can’t possibly keep up with demand. There is only so much land cleared for crops to grow on, and until that increases, the amount of available goods is limited. It’s impossible for everyone’s stockpile to be replenished.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why is Divan buying up their stockpiles, though? Why doesn’t he just buy from the market himself?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Probably because he’s afraid of someone catching on. If he buys an extravagant amount of food on the market, then companies, the merchant guild, and eventually even the kingdom itself would notice and grow suspicious.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s also cheaper for him to buy from the stockpiles than from the new harvest. And if he sweetens the deal a little, every noble family will be in his debt. Even though the families allied with House Marea are long-standing, prestigious houses, the truth is that many of them are in dire financial straits.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But this is the number-one reason why.” I handed her the single gold coin Moneda had enclosed in the letter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A gold coin? What’s special about this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s no ordinary gold coin. I had Moneda look into it. There are impurities mixed into this one. It would take five of these to equal three genuine gold coins. But these are the kind that Divan’s middleman company used to pay off the nobles on this list.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t tell me…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyone working for a decent company would spot it right away. And, apparently, the middleman company did think it suspicious but dismissed the possibility and accepted it anyway. Fortunately, the transaction itself wasn’t exceptionally large. Anyway, I’ve gotten off subject. The point is, I think that Divan is using these gold coins for payments.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So he’s obtaining the goods at a lower cost than their actual value?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s part of it, but that’s not all. Money is only valid because of trust.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The history of currency in this world closely resembled its history in my previous life. What started out as a mere method by which to exchange goods evolved into an item everyone coveted unto itself, then something which could be accumulated and distributed, with a set value everyone agreed upon, as well as something that was easy to carry and store. In other words, currency had been invented by people.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gold became the standard base currency, then convertible banknotes—in other words, pieces of paper that you could use to trade in for gold. After that, society moved to a managed currency system. In this world, they used gold as the standard for currency, just like in my previous world, and it had a set value, along with silver and copper. Notably, Armelian banks had recently introduced checks and promissory notes. But setting that matter aside, if everyone found out there were impurities mixed into the gold coins, everyone would start doubting if their gold was genuine. That would destabilize the worth of gold and the entire currency system based upon it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For example, let’s say someone comes to you and asks to buy a loaf of bread. If they offered you a piece of gold produced by a well-known mint that guaranteed the authenticity of their currency, you would probably gladly accept that payment. But what if they handed you some kind of paper you’d never seen before and said you could trade in that paper for some gold? Would you do it? I wouldn’t. Because you’d have no idea if that paper was actually worth something or not. It’s the same sort of problem.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If a person can’t know if the payment someone is offering them is genuine, of course they won’t want to accept it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Divan, you lowly snake!” I snarled when I remembered seeing him at the Azuta Corporation in the capital. “Not only would the value of gold decrease, but the price of food would increase—and the food would already be scarce. Once people start fretting about it, there’ll be a steep increase in food prices, one that no one will be able to stop.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I carried the weight of my citizens’ livelihoods on my back. I couldn’t let him succeed. For some reason, I was seething inside, swearing to myself that I would not let him win. When I’d faced off with Yuri’s cronies before, I’d thought they were nothing more than a pain. But now that her people had taken things this far, they had ignited my fighting spirit. I was taking this attack personally, and I would not lose.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“First things first, I’ll write a letter to Moneda.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you going to do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m going to tell him to recover all the currency in circulation in Armelia starting immediately. We will be switching to a paper currency system.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Paper currency?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Maybe I should call it a gold bond system? At any rate, this currency will be a piece of paper that you can exchange for gold coins. Fortunately, Moneda suggested we do this a while back. He said that since the paper won’t be heavy like promissory notes, and it will be easy to carry around, it will be more convenient to adapt for general use. He brought me a prototype a bit ago. At the time, I thought that if only our domain adopted a paper currency, it would agitate the capital for no reason, so I told him to hold off on it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew it would only fuel the rumors that we wished to become independent. The reason I’d been able to do so much until now was because Tasmeria gave its domain lords a great deal of freedom to do as we pleased, and what I did was well within the scope of that freedom. Moreover, I submitted all my plans to the capital, so they were aware of my activities. I also thoroughly discussed those submissions with Dean before submitting them to the capital. Of course, it helped that my father was the prime minister.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, it also helped that the battle for power was so intense at present, and as a result, the people in the capital were more worried about what was going on there instead of what was happening in every domain. By the time they realized what I was doing, the plans had already been implemented in Armelia. I also heard that there were those who didn’t interfere because they wanted me to fail.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At any rate, switching to a paper currency system would detach us from the kingdom’s standard currency. I’d thought that I didn’t have a real reason to go through with it, but as of now, the pros outweighed the cons. I needed to start right away, before confusion hit the market.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was incredibly grateful for Moneda’s efforts. He’d said this change was possible at any time; all we needed to do was to put the duchy officials on the case.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The banks will collect all the gold, silver, and copper—after confirming their authenticity, of course. If we find any coins with impurities mixed into them, we shall only recognize them for their actual worth. Luckily, I don’t think that many counterfeits have made it into general circulation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about the gold coins we accept from other domains?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll check all of them for authenticity and accept them on a case by case basis. But we won’t use any currency inside of Armelia but for paper. If anyone from another domain wants to do business with us, they must go to a bank to exchange their currency.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How will the banks check the coins?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Moneda explained that the impure coins are much lighter than the genuine ones. So, they can weigh the coins and find out immediately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But my lady, won’t switching to paper currency do exactly as you said and provoke the capital?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll alert Lord Sagitalia. As long as I go through him while he’s still the minister of finance, no one will be able to stop me. Also, I’ll make it clear that the paper currency can be exchanged for gold. In other words, I have no intention of trying to do away with the kingdom’s standard currency. Although at some point, I won’t be able to say that anymore. My number-one priority is protecting my own domain, so we need to proceed with this while people are still distracted by this game of succession musical chairs. Now, please call Sei in here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya immediately went to do so. Sei had come with us so that he could observe the competition between businesses in the capital, as well as to check on the branch of the Azuta Corporation in the capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it, my lady?” Sei entered the room slightly out of breath.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya still had a cool look on her face, but this was no time to make jokes. I told him everything I’d told her, not hiding a bit of the truth. Once I was done, all the color had drained from Sei’s face. I was glad that he had immediately realized the gravity of the situation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Azuta Corporation is doing a good deal of business in other domains now. What should we do about that?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The café in the capital doesn’t even really use gold coins, right?” I confirmed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. We use price setting in order to encourage commoners to patronize the café.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If someone does use a gold coin, make sure you have the customer wait a moment and weigh the coin in the back. If it’s lighter than a genuine gold coin, switch it with another gold coin and take it. If you don’t have any other gold coins, there’s nothing else to do but accept it. But make sure you store it in a separate place. I want you to keep count of all the coins you accept, including the lighter ones. Once you’ve accumulated more than ten of the lighter coins, calculate them against how many genuine coins you have and raise the prices of all goods sold there accordingly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. I’ll distribute scales to weigh the gold coins to every shop immediately. And I’ll have all the shops report back regarding the number and weight of coins they receive.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, please do that. Oh, and raise the prices for the members-only shop—and on all luxury items in the other stores as well. Make me a list of all the items we can raise prices for and deliver it to me. We accept many gold coins, so check and make sure we don’t already have any counterfeits. And don’t tell anyone the reason, especially not when you explain it to the customers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As you wish, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I rattled off my instructions, Sei bowed his head. The look of concern on his face had vanished. The tension was gone from his shoulders, and he had once more recovered his usual look of composure. That was exactly how he had been back in Armelia. After he bowed, he left the room as quickly as he had come into it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now I’ll have to give out various orders to Moneda and the other officials. Tanya, if you have anything else to report, please do so now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think that perhaps the first prince is aware of this matter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness. Why do you think so?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because during the course of my investigation, I ran into another spy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t hide my surprise at Tanya’s news as she told me of her encounter with the spy. Not only was I shocked that someone had been able to negotiate with Tanya, I was blown away that someone had made her feel as if she were in danger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right… I think it’s highly possible that spy belongs to the first prince,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first prince, Alfred, apparently had some exceptionally skilled people working for him. That boosted my opinion of him a bit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“However, if he has such a brilliant spy doing reconnaissance, then he must also already have a plan to deal with the issue that he’s working on. At any rate, I’ll inform my father about the counterfeit gold coins, but I’ll leave the rest to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya looked slightly surprised.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I laughed, wondering why she was so bewildered. “Did you think I was just going to place blame and move toward a solution?” She nodded slightly in response. “Well, I won’t. I’m well aware of how much power I hold right now. Besides, my hands are already full with matters in the duchy. My first priority is the citizens of Armelia. I don’t have time to deal with anything else right now. Not to mention, no matter how hard I try to pull strings behind the scenes, right now Queen Ellia, House Marea, and their faction are running the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was nothing to be done about it. Best-case scenario, they would crush me. Worst-case scenario, I’d be treated as a traitor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At any rate, I want you to investigate Lord Messi. Ah… Do you think that’s the reason why he’s barely in the capital, even during the social season? Apparently Lord Monroe has no room to take the extenuating circumstances into consideration. But if the first prince is aware of all this, I really can’t think of anything more encouraging for us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya quietly nodded in response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then. First, I must write a letter to the officials in Armelia, giving them instructions. Tanya, I want you to give Father Rafsimons a message.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tell him to delay Mimosa’s wedding.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahh, I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In order to marry in this kingdom, you needed the permission of the Darryl Church. It was most important to exchange your vows in front of God and have Her watch over you as you began your future together. One couldn’t do that without first securing the permission of the Church, of course. In other words, you couldn’t have a wedding ceremony until you received that acknowledgment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Queen Ellia might put pressure on him, but tell him that he must delay it, no matter what. He can decide how. Tell him nothing is off the table.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was only a short time ago that I had received a letter from him, rejoicing in how we’d removed Van as well as his father, the former pope, and all their followers at the same time. He’d said in the letter that he owed me one, and now it was time to call in the favor. Van had caused me no small amount of trouble, but if this was my reward, then I was glad I had taken him on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, my lady. I will deliver the message.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, please. And I want you to continue keeping an eye on the situation with Mimosa.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Tanya left, I wrote letters to Sebastian and every official responsible for each jurisdiction back in Armelia. The letters to Abitante and Borsa were especially thick. I kept writing and writing, and before I knew it, the sun had set. But time was of the essence in this situation, so as I rested my eyes, I decided that if I had to, I would stay up all night to write the letters.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just as I was thinking I should inform my guards so they could check our security, Lyle walked into the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lyle! Perfect timing. I was just thinking of calling you and Dida in here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I just ran into Tanya, and she told me to come in here,” he said. Once again, I was impressed with Tanya’s foresight. “What happened?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In response to his question, I informed him of everything that was going on and also discussed my ideas regarding our security system going forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle listened quietly before he spoke. “In that case, then we need to increase security at the banks, just as you said. Also, there should be security nearby when gold coins are changing hands and are being carried. I’ll give the orders right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a good point. Let me know once things have taken shape. I need to let the other officials know as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, Lyle—I received a formal letter of apology from Knight Commander Sertreau.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that right? I’m sorry for the trouble,” he said with a wry smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was unheard of for someone to turn down a direct request from the knight commander himself. The knighthood was regarded as an extremely honorable profession, after all. That was also why some of them became as conceited as Dorssen. But putting that aside, Knight Commander Sertreau’s attempt to recruit my bodyguards had gone too far—because they belonged to Armelia. Everyone knew that, so Sertreau’s decision to go through House Anderson as he stubbornly persisted in his attempts could be seen as a direct insult to Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, Armelia absolutely couldn’t back down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry about it. Anyway, are you sure this is all right?” I asked. “If it’s really what you want, you know I would ultimately respect your wishes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you talking about? My wish is to serve you, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m very grateful to hear that. But originally, you…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am Lyle. I have no other name than that. And Lyle…has never even once considered leaving your side, my lady. Or…do you no longer have need of me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t be ridiculous!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had told them all during our tussle with the Boltik family, but it was worth reiterating—each one of my friends was incredibly precious to me. The only reason I’d come as far as I had was because of their help. But the main reason I valued them was because we had all been together since we were children.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re very important to me, Lyle. I would never feel like I didn’t need you anymore. You all are like family. Actually…you’re more than that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t even imagine them betraying me. It was impossible. We had built up such trust with each other because we cared so deeply for one another.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But that’s exactly why I want you all to do what makes you happy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This isn’t just because I made an oath to you, to dedicate my whole self to you.” Lyle’s tone of voice changed, and I gave him a puzzled look. “When I was a little boy, I made a vow not long after you took me in. You were like a shining beacon to me, my lady. Before I met you, I was only filled with wants and desires. But you made me want to give and serve. And so I swore to become a man strong enough to protect you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lyle…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have no other wishes but that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… All right, then. If you’re certain of it, then I accept.” I let out a sigh and smiled at him. “Good. Because I’ve been secretly worried about what I’d do if you came to me and said you wanted to leave me to go off and become a knight!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle chuckled. “Then why did you ask me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because you can’t have any uncertainty in your heart going forward now. Just like when Dida asked if I was prepared for war.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle nodded with understanding.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But most of all, I don’t want to tie you down. I’m grateful that you feel such loyalty to me because of the past, but I don’t want it to narrow your options. I’ve said the same thing to Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would never say this to anyone but you, my lady. But if I could serve you for more than one lifetime, then I would do so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness…” I had to laugh when I imagined it. “In that case, Lyle, I’m glad you will be continuing in my service. I’ll be counting on you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Lyle left, I looked back down at the papers in front of me. I’d finished writing my instructions to the duchy’s officials, so it was time to send Sebastian my large-scale plan. I needed to include the news Lyle had given me and ask Sebastian to sort everything out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps I need to give him a special vacation after all this is over?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d be working as hard as the people in Borsa for a while—actually, I was getting even less sleep than that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I need to make sure I don’t work him that hard, I thought as I hastily scribbled off my letter.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The sun at dawn was incredibly beautiful. I never got sick of seeing it every morning, even though at this point I’d lost track of how many mornings in a row I’d watched it rise.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I hated being in the capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If only I were back in Armelia, I could give my instructions directly and if anything were to happen, I could deal with it immediately… But the capital was the eye of the storm, so by staying here, I was able to keep up with the developing situation in real time. That was why I had decided to stay, even though it pained me to do so.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sebastian, Moneda, and the other officials were already carrying out the orders I’d written to them. Within days, their responses had arrived alongside reports, questions, and suggestions. I had answered the letters and included further instructions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya entered my study, a look of worry on her face. “My lady, you need to take a break at night. I know the situation is critical, but we’ll be in even bigger trouble if you collapse from exhaustion. I’m begging you—please be in your bed in the morning when I come to wake you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll rest when all of this is taken care of. Do you have any news from Armelia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s been no word yet.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, we still have some time left. I’ll sleep for an hour. Come wake me then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went over to the cot and lay down. The simple bed stood out in my study, which was otherwise equipped with fine, sturdy furniture. I’d asked them to place it there because I didn’t want to even waste a few minutes by walking to my bedroom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya had a look on her face that said she was glad I was resting, but she really wished I’d get some sleep in a proper bed. Nevertheless, she promptly came to wake me after an hour had passed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has any news arrived?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing at the moment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Ah, by the way—did you receive any word from Father Rafsimons after you went to speak with him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, nothing there, either. I think he’s dealing with things in his own way, as usual.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm. Have you made any progress with your investigation into House Rubellia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry, my lady. But nothing has come up in that regard yet, either.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. If only you could uncover some kind of major scandal or impropriety he’s engaged in to give Mimosa a good excuse to break off the engagement… Well, at any rate, go ahead and continue your investigation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed like I’d have no choice but to plot against Count Rubellia. I had reserved that as a last resort, but either way, one must know their enemy before attacking, so our first order of business was the investigation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dan’s family name was among those on Moneda and Tanya’s lists, so it would certainly make things go faster if that scandal came to light and they were held accountable for their treasonous behavior.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. I’m going to get ready now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was going to see Count Sagitalia. He’d sent a letter to the queen dowager in the form of an address to the royal family. I’d also explained the entire saga to my father, not sparing even one detail. After I was finished, he’d said, “I’m amazed you figured it out…” so I had a feeling he had already known about it. That was only a guess on my part though, because I hadn’t had the chance to ask him any further details.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The reason why was because right after that, my father’s condition worsened. He had come down with a flu. It was only a flu, but it was still a flu, all the same. I had a feeling that his immune system had weakened due to his injuries, which was why he caught it. He had a high fever, a racking cough, and I suspected he might be developing pneumonia as well. He barely had the energy to speak to me. But even though he was in his sickbed, he had instructed me to meet with Count Sagitalia, so that was what I was doing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment I arrived, I told the count everything.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And you figured all this out on your own?” he asked. “I would say I’m impressed, but I expect nothing less from you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need for flattery. Anyway, I was wondering what measures you’ve been taking against the problem?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“None.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“None at all?” I couldn’t hide the suspicion from my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I did send my most trusted employees to Prince Alfred, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… So then Prince Alfred already knows about this situation?” I asked innocently, although I knew the answer to that question.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Since it’s you, Lady Iris, I shall be honest. But it was Prince Alfred who first uncovered this situation, not us. He is already working to address it. But he did say he feared that he wouldn’t make it in time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to say that I agreed with the prince’s prediction. Too many of the counterfeit coins had already circulated. In other words, the fuse had already been lit. Now the only questions remaining were: How large would the explosion be, and how could we make it as small as possible?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So then, why aren’t you or my father—ah, never mind. I see. Because then the bottom would fall out, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The count nodded. “That’s right. As you know, Lady Yuri is engaged to the second prince and has assumed the role of a future princess. In that position, she is seducing and deceiving the sons of nobles in this kingdom one by one. If we make even the slightest move and people get wind that counterfeit gold coins are in circulation, it will cause a great panic.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hate to compliment the enemy, but they’ve really done a number on us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Count Sagitalia smiled weakly. “You’re very much like your mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where did that come from, all of a sudden?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You haven’t lost your fighting spirit, even in a situation like this. On the contrary, your eyes are blazing even more brightly now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had a point; even thinking about what Divan was doing made my heart feel like it was on fire. I was consumed with an overwhelming desire to win…and to bring about his downfall. The emotions were so strong, one could almost compare it to being in the throes of a passionate love affair.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Putting that aside, as you have realized, the kingdom is in a most precarious situation right now. To further complicate things, Prince Alfred is currently out of the country.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did you say? What in the world is the first prince doing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The queen dowager ordered him to leave. Just between you and me, the king doesn’t have much time left. And that puts the second prince in an even more favorable position.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, I see. And if the first prince were here, the second prince’s faction could crush the last bit of hope. So that was why the queen dowager wanted him to leave the kingdom for now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Her Majesty hasn’t told me as much, but I think perhaps you’re right. And I think her decision was solidified when Lord Louis was attacked.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. As a citizen, however, I find that intolerable,” I blurted out harshly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen dowager’s actions were as good as surrender—although I knew the situation had already grown hopeless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems that Prince Alfred was the first to find out, and when the queen dowager was made aware, she sent him to another kingdom. In my personal opinion, this is the prime opportunity to root out the evils of this kingdom. In order for the first prince to take the throne, he must completely overcome the second prince’s faction. Her Majesty ordered Prince Alfred to step away from the capital temporarily so they could take out the second prince’s faction just as they seemed to achieve victory. Of course, it’ll all be meaningless if the first prince doesn’t prove victorious himself, but I think it was necessary. …Although, I don’t have any idea where he is right now. I think the only ones who do know are the queen dowager and Lord Louis.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My father?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So he did know absolutely everything. I wished he’d told me. Then I could’ve started implementing the countermeasures in Armelia even sooner. Or perhaps my father had been afraid to let me make a move. There were certainly people who would grow suspicious if they had caught wind of what I was doing. And in the worst-case scenario, I might have ended up named as an accomplice to the first prince—a scapegoat for the second prince’s frustrations, as it were. However, being so afraid of that outcome that I didn’t make a move simply wasn’t an option for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had no idea what would happen to Tasmeria, but as long as I could protect my own domain and my citizens, then I would not hesitate to take action.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for telling me all this vital information,” I said. “You’ll be returning to your domain once the social season is over, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The fewer domains that descend into chaos, the better. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your letter in Armelia telling me of your success.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve given me quite a bit of homework, once again.” There was a smile on the count’s face, but he was looking quite exhausted already.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Time passed very quickly after that. Thanks to everyone’s tireless work, Armelia completely transitioned to using paper currency. There was a bit of confusion at first, but nothing beyond what I’d imagined. Sebastian said the transition went so smoothly because of the good relationship I’d built up with my citizens. Not to toot my own horn, but I think that’s quite right. There was no way such a change would have gone as smoothly if I’d attempted it when I first rose to power.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, many things had happened since then, and I’d overcome them all. I had taken my time to slowly implement various reforms and procedures. All of that had led to this. It made me feel like the road down which I’d walked meant something after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Azuta Corporation had already raised its prices too. Other companies within Armelia were working on doing the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure it’s wise to tell the merchant guild about this?” Sei asked me after he was finished giving his report on the latest activities of the corporation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They’re merchants. The finest merchants, in fact.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sei looked surprised by my response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If chaos descends, it’s highly possible that we won’t be able to carry on business as usual. If people lose trust in gold coins, it’s easy to imagine circulation stagnating. But these fellows are top-class merchants; they know it’s in their best interest to keep their mouths shut and just weigh the gold coins to circumvent as much chaos as possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” Sei nodded, accepting my answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want you to continue managing the Azuta Corporation just as you always have. We’ve placed Armelian security guards at each one of the shops. And if you hear any new information, send it my way immediately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, Tanya entered the room. “My lady. I’ve just received word that the king has passed away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment, it felt like time froze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So it’s finally happened. I thought, and I sighed. “I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you already know?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. But I was aware that he didn’t have much time left.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure Queen Ellia will make funeral arrangements right away to ensure that she can place Ed on the throne. Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Start making preparations to return to the duchy. We’ll be going home as soon as the funeral ends.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Things are already in motion. There’s no use staying here any longer. Besides, the longer I stay in the capital, the sooner they’ll find a way to attack me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well. I’ll make sure we can leave at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. I need some time to think. Will you two leave for now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sei and Tanya nodded, then left the room. As soon as the door closed, I let out a heavy sigh. I folded my arms on my desk and leaned forward, resting my head on them. We’d come to the point of no return. Queen Ellia and House Marea had their power.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What would happen to Tasmeria? And what would happen to Armelia? I knew the answer wouldn’t come even if I kept sitting there, thinking about it, but at the same time a vague unease grew within me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I patted my clothes, searching for the pocket watch I wore around my neck.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I remembered the words I’d said to my father long ago: “I will make our domain into one that cannot be shaken, no matter what happens in the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did I speak the truth or not? The time to find out has finally come,” I murmured, hugging myself fiercely.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Don’t run. Don’t lose. Don’t give up. That’s what having responsibility means. That is the resolve I must have when I do this job.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was a mantra of sorts I had repeated to myself in my past life whenever there was trouble at work. My experiences in this life had been so rich that I’d gradually stopped remembering things about my past, but that bit suddenly popped into my head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No matter what happens around me, I have to carry out the duty I was given.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Because in the end, whatever events unfolded in the world didn’t change my responsibilities. That thought was oddly comforting. Now calmer, I left my room to find my mother and Berne so that I could speak to them of the future.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 9",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 20: The Duke's Daughter Mourns",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 20:The Duke’s Daughter Mourns",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "CHURCH BELLS TOLLED. Every feature of the royal capital was draped in black.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as I had suspected, the king’s funeral service was held nigh immediately after his death was announced. It came so fast, in fact, that I had to wonder if they had planned it in advance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Queen Ellia sprawled herself over the coffin as she shed tears. Other members of the royal family stood around her, including Yuri, despite the fact that she was not an official member of the royal family and merely a fiancée. Yuri stood there, gazing at the king’s body, silently weeping, a concerned Ed close by her side. The queen dowager remained resolute, but there was a sadness in her eyes. The first prince was nowhere to be seen. Was he still abroad? Not even Tanya could suss out his movements, so they remained a mystery.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stole glances from among the other mourners. Most of them wore melancholy expressions. Were they genuinely grieving over the king’s death, were they pretending, or were they more worried over the fate of the kingdom?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I absently watched over the funeral as if from a place of great remove. As soon as it finished, I immediately departed the capital for Armelia. I’d already gone and alerted my mother and Berne to my plans the day I found out about the king’s death, and I’d already said my goodbyes. My only concern was that my father’s condition still hadn’t improved.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, to be honest, I had many concerns. Mimosa, the future power struggle between the nobles, and so on. At the very least, there would be no developments with Mimosa’s wedding because of the mandatory period of mourning following the king’s death. Moreover, if something were to happen, I knew that Father Rafsimons would put a stop to it. As such, I decided to take advantage of this opportunity to continue my investigations and devise a plan while in Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As for the power struggle between the nobility, well, there was simply nothing I could do about it. If I stayed in the capital any longer, Queen Ellia or Yuri would find a way to destroy me. I had no choice but to take my leave.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My servants greeted me as usual when I arrived at the estate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome home, my lady,” Sebastian said on behalf of the rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s good to be back.” I looked over everyone’s faces, said my hellos, and then went inside. “Sebastian, tell me everything that’s happened since my departure. And gather reports from the heads of both Borsa and Abitante. Also, I want you to contact Moneda. Tell him I want to know what he’s been up to since I’ve been gone, and I want to discuss our future plans with him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I shot off my instructions in rapid fire while Sebastian listened attentively.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dida, I’m sorry to ask you this just after we get home, but please gather reports from the security force and bring them to me. I especially want to know if there have been any problems with the guards at the bank, and I want to know the state of order in each city after converting to paper currency.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You got it, Princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lyle, I want you to check if there have been any issues with personnel, goods, and facilities in each district. Right now, it’s urgent that we assess security everywhere, for the future of the kingdom. I don’t want to hear that we weren’t prepared when it’s too late.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave out the orders as I walked through the house, until I had reached my study. The instant I sat down, Sebastian entered the room with several reports. In the days following, he left reports like this every morning to inform me of what had happened during my absence. I was grateful that he did it in this way rather than telling me everything all at once. I started reading the ones he provided upon my arrival so I could go to my various meetings armed with the relevant information. When I read them, I sorted the matters covered into ones that urgently needed to be taken care of and those that could wait.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, Sebastian came back into the room. I asked him several questions and checked details with him regarding the reports I’d read. His job was to gather reports from each agency and official and put them in order. In other words, I was able to get a more complete picture from talking to him. I wasn’t sure if it was because of his long-standing experience as a butler or simply his personality, but he was extremely skilled at arranging things in a coherent fashion. Additionally, as he could smoothly carry out all my orders in each area, I always felt comfortable leaving things in his care.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems as though there aren’t any other pressing problems besides the currency situation, hm?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s correct. Besides the urgent matter you wrote about from the capital, everything else is proceeding smoothly. There haven’t been any tangles in particular that need attention. The only item of note is that quite a lot of personnel were required during the switch to paper currency.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. Still, we can’t draw this out for too long. I’m sorry, but this situation will continue until things calm down. It might be a bit early for the students’ work study, but perhaps I’ll start recruiting them.” Ever since my excommunication, I’d been temporarily hiring students to perform part-time jobs every now and then. It was an exceptional experience for them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think that’s a good idea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can’t have everyone collapsing from overwork, after all. However, we can’t have them directly handling the exchanges either. Make sure that’s carried out appropriately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I let out a sigh. “Still, I’m so glad that we were able to transition to the paper currency system so quickly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’m sure it’s because Moneda made preparations for it in advance. His overenthusiasm served us well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. Instead of chastising him for going ahead without permission, I’ll have to thank him!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It had been quite a surprise to find out that he had already made more than enough paper currency even before I gave him the orders to commence the switch—even before he knew whether I would approve.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, at any rate, that’s just another reason why he needs a break.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Moneda was the kind of man who thought and acted for himself. The same could be said for Tanya and the others, but Moneda was different. The others always tried to think of the best ways to help me before they made a move, but Moneda cleaved to his own convictions, and in the most efficient way possible. That was why he was willing to risk butting heads with me. There was no one else I would’ve trusted more to implement an independent banking system.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There was a short period of confusion within the duchy, but it calmed down once the major companies exchanged their gold coins and adopted the paper currency.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true. Thanks for your reports. Can you have the heads of Borsa and Abitante come here? And prepare the conference room—I want to have a meeting there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The following days and months were turbulent, to say the least. There wasn’t much disorder in the capital after the king’s passing, not that this surprised me. He had been indisposed for a long time, so not much had changed for those who worked under him.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, the increase in Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea’s arrogance was reportedly nearly unbearable to witness. People in key positions of power who belonged to Prince Alfred’s camp quit one after another and withdrew to their domains. Count Sagitalia was one of them, of course.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father remained in the capital due to his condition, but he also resigned from his post. He wanted to step down before someone made up a reason to force him out. Those close to Marquis Marea were quickly dubbed the successors to my father’s position and everyone else’s, almost as if they had been waiting for the chance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This kingdom rotted away more and more by the day. It was in definitive decline. And preparations were already underway for Ed to ascend as the next king.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All those thoughts ran through my head as I looked down at the documents in front of me. Fortunately, no one had yet made any moves against Armelia. I wondered when they would start. For now, I could focus on reading the reports on our infrastructure improvements. I tried to push the dark thoughts out of my head and pay attention to the documents again. I was genuinely pleased to see my ideas had finally come to fruition.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once things calm down, I would love to go see the construction in progress, I thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, I remembered something Rehme had said: “It’s common in this kingdom to see several months of hot weather followed by long periods of heavy rain, especially in the western regions, maybe once every hundred years or so. It’s never affected Armelia, so it’s generally none of our concern, but I thought I ought to let you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "How could I have forgotten this?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya!” I yelled in a voice much too loud for addressing my lady-in-waiting—or anyone, for that matter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady! There’s something I need to tell you…!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Tanya burst into the room at that exact moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s been a flood. It’s a disaster. The western part of Tasmeria, including Lord Monroe’s domain, has been overwhelmed by a flooded river. They’ve incurred serious damages.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m too late, I thought as I clenched my hands into fists. You stupid idiot! Rehme told you and everything!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This would be the trigger. The grain belt in our kingdom began with Count Monroe’s domain in the west. The flooding had no doubt destroyed many crops before they could be harvested. The amount of food on the market would soon sharply decrease, and many domains had barely any stockpiles left, because their governors had sold off even the last scrap of their reserves to Divan.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The kingdom would fall into absolute chaos.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya! Assess the duchy’s stockpiles right away! And bring me the Abitante census documents from each region, even if it’s just a general idea. Also, I need to meet with the head of the merchant guild. Contact him immediately. Have Sei check on the welfare of the Azuta Corporation employees in the affected areas. You can even send my family’s personal security if you need to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "First off, we needed to regulate exports of food from Armelia. That was what I needed to discuss with the head of the merchant guild. Then, I needed to find out what had happened to the branches of the Azuta Corporation branches in the affected areas. I made a mental checklist in my head, and I was already developing a bit of a headache. But I couldn’t rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Someone call Lyle and Dida in here!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several people in the mansion started scurrying about—the urgency in my voice must have been apparent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s wrong, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Both of them ran up to me, looking worried. Tanya entered the room at the same time, documents in hand, likely regarding our stockpiles.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Tanya.” I held out my hand, and she handed me the documents right away. As I took them, I explained the situation to my two bodyguards. Then I told them how Divan’s machinations would affect things going forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We might receive an influx of refugees wanting to move to Armelia. But our food reserves and land aren’t unlimited. So we need to strengthen the borders.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want you three to know that I trust you from the bottom of my heart, and that’s why I’m saying this.” For a moment, I hesitated to say what I was going to tell them. But I had to. “I’m going to take a portion of our stockpile—an amount that would feed the Armelian population for three months—and bury it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Bury it, my lady?” They looked confused.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s just a figure of speech, of course. I’m going to store it in a different place—some other location, separate from the rest of the stockpiles. Somewhere here, on our land. And I’ll rewrite the ledger, just in case.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why are you doing this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because the kingdom might come to us for help, and as long as I’m the governor, there’s no telling what unreasonable demands they may make. They might even come to survey the handover. That’s why we need to be ready.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m just thinking in terms of the worst-case scenario.” I murmured self-deprecatingly. I didn’t think they heard me say it. “Well. Let’s begin.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave detailed instructions to each of them, and they all sprang into action. As I watched them leave, I let out another wry chuckle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Don’t think about anything else. You’re not God, after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was merely a human. And because I was a human, I had to choose. I had to choose to protect those close to me over those far away calling for help. That’s what I thought in order to placate my anxieties, borne of my weakness.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Don’t run. Don’t lose. Don’t give up. Take responsibility for your decisions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I repeated those words to myself before I returned my attention to the documents on my desk.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne departed from the capital on his way to Count Monroe’s domain. He had been dismissed from his post the moment his father, Louis, resigned from his. He now had so much free time on his hands, it felt like his previously packed schedules were no more than a dream.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea brandished their power with impunity back in the capital. The queen dowager had once again been forced to retire from public life when she was made to take responsibility for the food crisis; the queen had declared that the queen dowager’s countermeasures had not been woefully sufficient. The marquis went on to declare that the kingdom could no longer cling to old traditions and that what they truly needed to overcome these difficulties was a new king, one who could guide the kingdom in a new direction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Any excuse would have been good enough for them to say as much, but this crisis had fallen into their laps. The capital was on a path to unrest. Food was essential for human survival, yet there wasn’t enough. People raced to buy up what little was left and stockpile it for themselves. They couldn’t be blamed for it; everyone feared the future. Moreover, rumors had begun to spread that there were counterfeit gold coins in circulation, which only inspired further panic in the citizens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Prices had skyrocketed to unbelievable highs and the streets were filled with starving people. The royal family made earnest attempts to deal with the issue, but since they had already given up so much of their own personal stockpiles to charity, even the food reserved for the royal family had nearly disappeared. As such, the capital had fallen into disarray.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Some people bemoaned the situation and wept over it; some were angry. Those tears and anger swirled together into one great hurricane that consumed the capital. Little squabbles grew into fights, which resulted in even more tears. Everyone had their hands full taking care of themselves. And their discontent with the nobles, who barely paid attention to the suffering of the people and whose lives had barely changed, grew ever more intense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne was on his way to see Count Monroe because his father had instructed him to do so. Louis had given the order to his son the moment he was able to get out of bed. If Berne had the time, he said, then his father wanted him to go see Count Monroe’s domain, since it was on the border of the kingdom. He wanted to know the state of affairs in that region, since this was a prime time for Tweil to attack. Not to mention, he wanted to know how the nobles in that land were faring.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne was a bit puzzled by that last bit, yet he was going nevertheless. On his way there, he listened to the citizens. Every single one of them expressed anxiety and discontent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard everything’s fine in Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No way. They have to be affected too, if things are this bad.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But it’s true. People have heard it, and there’s a line out the door of folks wanting to move there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wonder how long it takes to get to Armelia, though? I got a kid who’s not even two yet.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne heard such conversations several times. Word of Armelia’s prosperity had traveled even to the farthest regions. Every time Berne overheard these conversations, his respect for Iris grew even deeper, but they also filled him with worry. He feared what kind of demands Queen Ellia would place on Iris once she heard of Armelia’s health. Once again, Berne cursed his own powerlessness. It was a vicious cycle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At any rate, he and his three bodyguards hurried to Count Monroe’s domain. They took short rests along the way, but they traveled with great haste. At last, they arrived. The moment they did, Berne was rendered both speechless and expressionless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To call it a ghost town would have been insufficient. The main avenue looked like a street in the capital’s slums. The flood waters had just receded, leaving behind a horrible mess on the roads. People were lying on the street, so emaciated that they were no more than skin and bones. Berne couldn’t tell if some of them were even alive. The stench of rot invaded his nostrils.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What…is this?” he blurted out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was no answer. He impulsively started running.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Berne! Please wait!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He didn’t even hear the guard’s voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This can’t be real, he thought as he ran. But no matter how far he went, the scene was all the same—or to be more truthful, it grew even worse. If hell existed, this was what it looked like. Hopelessness seized his heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you…a noble?” a woman asked him, staring absently into space. “Please, have mercy on me…I’ve had naught but muddy water to drink for three days.” She staggered as she came closer to him. She was emaciated, and her eyes were vacant, lifeless and empty. The sight of them sent a shiver down his spine.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Get away from him!” Another man pushed the woman out of the way and clung to Berne instead. “Have mercy on me! I’ll do anything. I’ll be your slave if only you’d bring me some food!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "More people came toward Berne, pushing the others out of the way and grabbing on to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first woman who had approached him was still on the ground. Her body twitched, then stopped moving. A man stepped on her as if she were nothing and reached out toward Berne.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-augh!” Berne grabbed his head and screamed, trying to banish this scene from his mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two of his bodyguards heard his wail and rushed to his side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Back away from him!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne snapped back to reality when he saw his guards draw their swords. “Don’t hurt them!” he demanded. The guards hesitated.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Lord Berne!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine! You want food, don’t you?” Berne saw light glimmer in the people’s eyes. “Fons!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Fons, one of his guards, looked even more bewildered. “Lord Berne!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do as I say. Throw it as far as you can!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The guard took the pack from his back and tossed it far away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That package contains all the food we have.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The instant those words left Berne’s mouth, the people all scrambled toward it. Berne and his guards dashed in the opposite direction. They ran all the way to the border, then after they checked to make sure no one had followed them, all three sat down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry I went off without saying anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re just glad you’re safe. Are you sure it was a good idea to give up the food?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We can survive a day without. I have some emergency rations in my ruck, so the four of us can split them. I’m sorry you had to come here with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine. But that…” The guards’ expressions darkened all at once. They’d seen the same hellish scene as Berne. They were bewildered…and afraid.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think the main problem is the matter at hand, but that’s not all,” Berne murmured calmly. “I have a feeling those people were starving even before the floods. I think that perhaps it’s Lord Monroe’s fault that the food is so scarce.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Surely not!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are people’s lives so wholly dependent on who has power over them?” Berne bit his lip.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His guards gasped, having realized he wasn’t calm at all. In truth, Berne was unbelievably angry, though his anger was mostly directed toward his own powerlessness. The rage in the air was palpable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, they heard a rustling in the brush. His guards sprang to their feet to protect him. But nothing appeared. His guards drew their swords and slowly approached the brush, which they parted cautiously.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what…?” one of his guards exclaimed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What happened?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a child! A child has collapsed here!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne immediately sprang to action. The guard was right; a young, extremely thin girl was passed out in the brush.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We have water with the horses, don’t we?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Morry is standing guard with them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then go back to Morry and bring the water!” Berne picked up the girl and gave orders to his guards, who stood stiff behind him. The girl was surprisingly light. “Are you okay?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her eyes opened weakly when Berne talked to her, but they were unfocused.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey…hey!” Berne called to her urgently, but she did not answer. She opened her mouth slightly, but all that came out was a silent breath.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We brought it!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Here’s water! And food!” Berne held the food up to her mouth, but the girl didn’t move. He withdrew his emergency rations from his pocket and sprinkled water on them, then took the mushy food into his mouth. Once he had chewed it, he pressed his mouth to the girl’s. Berne’s guards were shocked, and they moved forward to stop him, but they paused when they saw the frantic fear in their master.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The little girl did not swallow the food. She lacked the strength to do even this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please… Please, eat it!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne’s cries were in vain, because the girl stopped breathing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey… hey!” Berne shook her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was no answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Berne, she’s already…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why? Why did such a little girl have to die like this?!” Berne snarled. His violent emotions turned into tears that flowed from his eyes. “Why did she have to suffer, when the men governing this domain are fat and happy…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He could no longer speak. He just let out an anguished groan as he held the girl tightly in his arms, as if trying to catch her life in his hands, begging her not to go.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He stayed there in this manner for the entire night, holding the girl as she grew cold in his arms.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One of his guards spoke to him tentatively when the morning sun rose. “Lord Berne…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne reacted to his voice, turning vacant eyes toward him. Up until that moment, he had not responded to any of them, but now, he finally reacted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We must return, Lord Berne…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll leave once I bury her,” he said, sitting up. Berne quietly dug a hole and buried the girl in it, then prayed over her grave. Once he was finished praying, he opened his eyes. They were filled with resolve. He took out the dagger he kept on him and sliced off his braid with the blade.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Berne…!” One of his guards exclaimed in shock.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne turned back toward them, his gaze hard and cold.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His shorn locks fluttered in the wind. “The man I was yesterday died along with that little girl,” he murmured and turned on his heel. He was headed back toward the capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne was eerily silent during the trip home, and they moved quickly. All he and his guards thought of was hurrying, ever forward. As soon as they arrived in the capital, Berne went straight to the mansion to see his father.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My…your face has changed, Berne.” Both Louis and Merellis looked shocked to see the change in their son. The light in his eyes seemed sharp enough to cut flesh, and his face was noticeably thinner. “What did you see?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I saw hell on earth,” Berne answered his father quietly, but fire burned in his eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Louis let out a sigh. “Take this to the detached palace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne gave him a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve become painfully aware of your own powerlessness, have you not? And you wish you could do something from the bottom of your heart? Something that could change the kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes,” Berne answered without hesitation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then hurry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne took the papers from his father and swiftly left the mansion.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The other domains were falling into disarray, and even Armelia was beginning to feel the aftershocks. An endless stream of people wanted to move to the duchy. I asked to see the situation for myself, and despite everyone’s objections, traveled to the border. I was left speechless.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, let us into Armelia!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please, have mercy! I walked all the way here with only water and nothing to eat!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, at least help my children! I don’t care what happens to me as long as my children are taken care of!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t cut the line!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Piercing screams came from all directions. The people looked haggard, frantically wailing at the top of their lungs. I desperately resisted the urge to cover my ears.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t slept much since that sight. Every time I tried, I heard the people’s screams ringing in my ears. Each time that happened, I went to my desk, telling myself: Don’t run. Don’t lose. Don’t give up. I sent off orders to let in as many refugees into Armelia as we could afford to without inciting disorder within our borders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I also had to deal with the Azuta Corporation. Fortunately, we had suffered no personnel losses due to the flooding, but we couldn’t begin to think of reopening those stores amidst such turmoil. I had no choice but to temporarily close all the shops that sold food in other domains. It pained me to do so, but there was nothing else I could do. Those employees were now out of work, but I had a responsibility to provide for their basic needs, so I was also dealing with that as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d heard that lately the Armelia estate was being called “the castle that never sleeps.” The other Armelian officials were working hard for me as well, despite their own troubles. How often were they even able to go home? When I asked one of them, he laughed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure… I haven’t been keeping track. The last time I tried going home, my wife yelled at me. She said, ‘Don’t worry about us when Lady Iris needs you! She’s desperately trying to protect us all!’ Then she told me to get to sleep and go right back to work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On hearing this, the other officials in the room laughed and agreed; they’d had similar experiences. Even though I’d never met most of their families, I felt deeply grateful to them for that. At the same time, it encouraged me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At some point, I stopped bothering to cover the dark circles under my eyes with makeup. I didn’t remember when. But I also no longer cared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Don’t run from reality. Don’t lose to yourself. Don’t give up on your responsibilities. I told myself this as I sat at my desk, surrounded by stacks of papers. Everyone trusted me, and so they followed me. The kingdom was in turmoil, and the ones who suffered the most for that were the citizens. I couldn’t stand for this senseless reality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The lives of those citizens, and the future citizens who waited at our gates, whose last hope was Armelia, depended on every paper I signed and every order I gave. I had no time to rest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady…” Sebastian called to me in an apologetic voice. I had a feeling that something bad had happened again. “This letter just came from the capital…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took the letter from him and read it. While I did so, my hand clenched the paper. When I finished reading, I tore the letter up in frustration and threw it away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is the meaning of this?!” I snarled angrily. A maid who was standing in wait in the corner of the room flinched, looking frightened. “Ahh, I’m sorry. You can leave now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The maid hurried out of the room. Seeing her leave so swiftly cooled my anger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yet another demand for food!” I snapped. “How many times are they going to ask? And on top of all that, ‘Refusing to supply aid will be seen as insurrection’?! Just who do they think they are?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To paraphrase the letter, it read: “You’ve got a lot of food stored up, right? Well, give it to us, because the kingdom is going to use it. And if you refuse, you’ll be considered a traitor, and we’ll send troops to take it by force.” The phrasing was more polite than that, but the gist was the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve sent them food three times now! If we send any more, we’ll have our own shortages!” I raised my voice, but Sebastian didn’t blame me for it. We’d set aside our secret stockpiles, but we’d already sent more than half our other food to the capital. That was about as much as the entire output of a smaller domain. And every time afterward, we’d receive another threatening letter, leaving us with no choice but to send more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They’d only sent one such letter to my uncle and aunt of House Anderson.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So basically, they were just harassing me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We cannot possibly send any more. If we do, then our people will begin to starve here too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sebastian didn’t know about the secret stockpiles, so the color had drained from his face as I said this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right,” I shook my head. “We have no other choice but to decline.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But my lady…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t help it if we don’t have anything else to send. And even if we did send something, they’d just keep asking for more and more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I attached a record showing our stockpiles were low and wrote a letter saying that we had no more to send, then handed it to Sebastian.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m going to write a letter to my grandfather and uncle as well. Just in case something happens, I don’t want to make an enemy out of their domain, seeing as they border us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sebastian nodded, a tense look on his face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want you to call the officials from Borsa here. We need to increase our budgets and also increase purchases of foodstuffs from other kingdoms.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. I’ll take care of it right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was afraid of what response might come. The only saving grace was that Mimosa’s wedding had been further delayed because of the troubles across the kingdom. While Father Rafsimons had put a stop to it on his end, neither family could spare the resources at the moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Deep in thought, I stared at the potted bugle resting on my windowsill. It seemed like a very long time since I’d bought it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I smacked myself across the cheek. This was no time to be getting sentimental.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, once again, I immersed myself in my work. A few days later, another letter arrived from the capital, sooner than I expected. I hesitantly broke the seal and opened the envelope.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It basically says ‘Enough with the impertinence and send us the food. We don’t have unlimited resources.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The end of the letter said that this would be our final warning. If we refused, they would send the military. I wanted to scream, “What are you, loan sharks come to collect your debts?!” But I supposed that would have been lowbrow of me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m going to the capital,” I said. “I heard that Queen Ellia and the other nobles are gathering to have a meeting anyway.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now? In this situation?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t blame Sebastian for being suspicious. Why would the families be holding a meeting when we were in such dire straits?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a feeling it’s because Ed’s position has been settled. It’s probably just a show, so that they can officially demonstrate that he will be ascending to the throne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But my lady…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unless I do something, they’ll just continue trying to squeeze us dry. And even when we truly cannot afford to give anymore, they’ll continue harassing us. I don’t see any other future. Once we got to that point, it would be too late. I absolutely will not accept that future for Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There is one thing I’m worried about. Will you be able to take care of things here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve already put the plans and countermeasures in place, my lady. Not to mention, I have so many dependable officials I can count on for help.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. Go to battle free of fear.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. I’m entrusting Armelia to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand. Please be careful on your journey.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I ordered Tanya to make the preparations, and once again, we set out for the capital. Time was of the essence, so I took as few people as possible.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the way there, I reminisced about my brush with excommunication. Dean had saved me then, but not just then…he’d saved me many times over. However, Dean wasn’t here now. I hoped he was safe during all this turmoil. I tried to push the worst-case scenarios out of my head. At present, I had no way of knowing how he was doing. That unfortunately made me worry all the more. It made my heart ache.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still, I had no time for concerns such as these, so I tried to push them to the back of my mind. But every now and then, a glimpse of them resurfaced. When my anxiety felt like it was too great to bear, I took out the pocket watch and clutched it in my hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I would have dropped everything and rushed out to search for him if I had been the least able to. But I couldn’t. It was out of the question. All I could do was wait for Dean to return. If I dropped everything for him, I would never forgive myself. I clutched my pocket watch, trying to push down these fears.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When I arrived back at the capital, the changes I beheld took my breath away. Had it always looked so desolate…?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle and Dida glanced around cautiously. They clearly sensed more danger here than on the road, and I could sense the rising tension in their posture. Nevertheless, we kept going and arrived at my family’s mansion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was relieved to lay eyes on familiar faces and promptly went to announce my arrival to my father.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s so good to see you again, Father. I’m pleased that you look much better than when I last saw you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It has been quite a while, Iris. I’ve recovered well, thanks to Merellis and the others.” My father had a smile on his face, but it struck me as weak. He was visibly thinner than the last time I saw him. It still seemed like it was painful for him to sit up. However, his complexion was much improved.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s nice to see you again, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you as well. I hear you’ve been working very hard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m trying,” I demurred shyly at my mother’s kind words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, I heard what’s going on.” But my father quickly snapped me back to reality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry, Father. It’s all my fault that I’ve caused so much trouble for the family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you talking about? I’ve never regretted making you governor, not for a single moment. Besides, even if you weren’t in a position of power, House Armelia has always stood in House Marea’s way. They would have tried to overthrow us sooner or later regardless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right, Iris. Please stop speaking as if you’re not needed. You’re so precious to us, and to the citizens of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mother, Father…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We hope you realize that. We—and all your citizens—trust your judgment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.” My eyes burned with tears. How did my parents always know how to say exactly what I needed to hear?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It pains me that I can’t take action alongside you, Iris,” my father murmured guiltily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head. “It’s fine, Father. Your sentiment alone is more than enough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My conversation with my parents filled my heart with warmth. They trusted me explicitly, and they validated me. I couldn’t think of anything more encouraging than that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please go lie down, Father. I’m going to rest for a bit too, so if you’ll excuse me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, I went back to my room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few moments later, Tanya entered. “Pardon me, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s happened?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The investigation is finished, thanks to Moneda’s cooperation. We have the full support of the Andersons, including your grandfather.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. We can rest easy if worse comes to worse. Tanya, were you able to contact Milo?” She nodded silently. “And what did he say regarding Queen Ellia’s summons?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He was all smoke and mirrors, but he basically said this: ‘She’s not the kind to pick a losing battle.’ By which he meant to refer to you, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya’s answer gave me a sense of reassurance so strong that it felt as if Dean were by my side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe it’s just my imagination…” I placed a hand over my heart. Beneath it, I could feel the pocket watch that I wore around my neck.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s the matter, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s nothing. Go ahead and distribute the other letters to those I’m going to negotiate with. I’ll be taking action.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, my lady. I’ll let you know their responses as soon as I can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. Thank you, Tanya.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As soon as Lyle arrived in the capital and escorted Iris to her parents’ mansion, he headed for the castle. Dida was by his side, as usual. But he hadn’t said a word. This was on account of Lyle’s expression, which looked unusually sinister. Not even Dida had ever seen Lyle look so severe. It wasn’t cold, per se. It was more that his typical upstanding and noble demeanor had vanished.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A servant by the entrance to the castle showed them inside and led them to a room, where Yuri waited for them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew you’d come, Lyle. Although there’s someone I didn’t ask for here with you.” Yuri’s eyes sparkled as soon as she saw Lyle, but her expression changed into a pout when she noticed Dida next to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why does it matter if he’s here too?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It doesn’t, as long as it’s all right with you.” Yuri’s mouth twisted into a sarcastic smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida was dizzied by the sharp contrast between this expression and the innocent, absentminded girl Yuri pretended to be. At the same time, he was suspicious toward Lyle, who didn’t seem surprised at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you call me here?” Lyle asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, please. As if you don’t already know. Do I really have to say it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m asking because I don’t know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly…” Yuri let out a sigh, but she didn’t seem the least bit annoyed. To the contrary, she looked thrilled. “I’ll keep it simple. I want you to join the knighthood. I’ll put in a good word for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I already said no to that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know. But this time, you’re going to say yes,” Yuri said, brimming with confidence. “If you join the knighthood, then I’ll lend you the power to become the next Lord Meleze.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida was shocked. What in the world is she talking about?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How do you know where I’m from?” Lyle asked Yuri quietly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m the future queen. I’m in a position to easily obtain any information I desire. Here and there, I noticed that your gestures were so elegant, and I thought it strange, so I looked into it. I was surprised. I couldn’t believe you were the illegitimate son of Lord Meleze. Your poor mother—having a man who was old enough to be her father fall in love with her. She didn’t even have feelings for your father, yet his wife’s jealousy got her killed. As a woman, I sympathize with her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida was so stunned at this revelation that he forgot to maintain his composure. His mouth flapped open and closed, but no sound came out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems like you didn’t ever tell your partner about your past, hm?” Yuri smirked at Dida’s reaction. “It’s horrible, isn’t it? His son, the current Lord Meleze, has no idea. Your mother was killed, you were nearly killed and banished, and yet not only does he have no idea, but he actually tried to recruit you! You want to avenge your mother, don’t you? It’s a shame the former Lord Meleze is already dead, but why not take revenge on his son? Well? That sounds good, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was a wild frenzy in Yuri’s eyes. She didn’t hesitate at all to suggest this. It almost looked as if she personally hated Count Meleze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unfortunately, that’s unnecessary.” But Lyle did not share that enthusiasm. He just quietly stared at her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What…are you talking about?” Yuri stared, clearly stunned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I said, it’s unnecessary.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re lying!” Yuri’s face twisted with anger, and she grabbed Lyle’s arm. “You have to hate him! That’s why you once tried to join the knights, isn’t it? That’s what I heard. Don’t tell me that airheaded, goody-two-shoes duke’s daughter seduced you?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her intensity made Dida’s eyes widen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But Lyle only coolly looked down at her. “I cast aside the Meleze name. I was told long ago that I had no right to use it in the first place. I died when my lady took me in. I died, and I was reborn. So, I am no longer interested in House Meleze, and I have absolutely no desire to join the knighthood.” He calmly pried Yuri’s hands off of him and stared her down with complete composure. “The only reason I came here is because I wanted to sort out whether you knew about my past. It was my gestures, was it? I’ll be more careful from now on.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle turned on his heel, completely having lost interest in this exchange.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait! Why…? You can’t just cast aside your past so easily! Hate and resentment only pile up and grow stronger. Isn’t it the same for you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is, in a way. But there’s no reason to be obsessed with what’s already happened. Besides, I’ve found something more important to me, so I no longer care about any of that.” Lyle said simply and then left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri watched him go, her face as enraged as a demon’s.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My, my. Unusual to see you so out of control,” Divan said, appearing out of nowhere.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri glared up at him. “Don’t eavesdrop.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wasn’t eavesdropping. They sensed someone was here, although obviously, they couldn’t have known it was me.” Divan didn’t seem to wither under her gaze; in fact, he seemed amused by her ire. “I investigated him because you said you wanted a fierce fighter on your side after Dorssen disappeared… But now I see…you thought you’d found a kindred spirit in him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shut up!” Yuri snarled with surprising volume; it sounded like the anger came from the depths of her heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her intensity could have frightened many a grown man. But this man kept smiling and came closer to her. “I won’t. Because if you get too caught up in trivial matters like this and get distracted from your true goal, you’ll cause problems for me too. Were you lying when you said you were going to surpass your mother and get revenge on this kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Divan roughly grabbed her by the cheek and stared at her from close up. His eyes were cold and sharp.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It wasn’t a lie,” Yuri ground out. “I’m not a coward. Not like him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved to hear that.” Divan smiled and let go of her face. “Still, if we can’t have Lyle on our side, then perhaps we should have retained Dorssen for longer? It was incredibly difficult making him disappear, you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He had no further use to us. That woman got to him, and he was starting to think about things he shouldn’t have. There’s no reason to keep someone alive if they’re just going to get in our way, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved you haven’t become a coward, either.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you joking? That’s not funny at all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, no matter. Ah, it’s almost time for the tailor to come. I’m going to have her make me a simply gorgeous dress for the meeting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The meeting?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, the meeting to formally announce Edward’s ascension.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Suggest to the queen that she should postpone it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? What’s gotten into you, Divan? This is the prime opportunity for Edward to become the ruler of this country!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unfortunately, we’ve still been unable to get rid of the first prince. Not only that, but despite bringing all my resources to bear, I can’t even locate him. There are too many things we don’t know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The ruined first prince? Please. What can he do? Goodness, Divan, it’s like you’ve been slacking. Hurry up and bring me the first prince’s head!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Enough already. I’m the queen of Tasmeria. I did everything you asked me to do. Honestly…stop prattling on here with me and go do what you’re supposed to. I don’t need your help anymore, you know. I can do everything on my own.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.” For a moment, Divan froze, but then he responded with a smile. However, the smile was so icy, that anyone who glimpsed it would have been chilled to the bone. “I shall take my leave now.” He bowed once more and then left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So the time has finally come to cut ties… No matter. I don’t need him to carry out my plans anymore.” Yuri murmured to herself, her words echoing heavily in the empty room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile, the two guards silently left the castle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey,” Dida said to Lyle, having made up his mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure I should’ve come with you? I’m convinced that’s not how you wanted me to find out about your past.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine. I never intended to hide it from you. I just never found the right time to tell you. Especially since I already knew about your past…” The sharpness that had been carved into Lyle’s face had melted away. He once more looked like the Lyle who Dida knew so well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Heh. All right, then.” Dida chuckled shyly as he whacked Lyle on the back. His partner smiled at him. “Still, can’t believe you’re a noble. But I guess now that I know about it, it makes sense. Does Princess know?” he pressed mercilessly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, the teasing only made Lyle feel more comfortable, and he smiled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, that I’m the illegitimate son of Lord Meleze? Or that that woman called me here today?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Both, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t tell her about today. I didn’t want to burden her with anything else right now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Got it…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But of course she knows about my past. Master Armelia looked into my background when they took me in. Plus, when our mistress first took me in, I resisted her and told her everything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You resisted Princess?! Damn, I wish I could’ve seen that!” Dida burst out laughing, but Lyle let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wish I could forget it ever happened.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How did you resist her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I said, ‘I’m the son of Lord Meleze!’ and ‘I’m only alive so I can join the knights!’ And then finally I said, ‘I don’t have time to play house with some little rich girl!’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oof… You actually said that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s why I wish I could forget it!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm… So why’d a rich boy like you agree to go with her in the end?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t call me that. Anyway…probably because I made her cry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That doesn’t surprise me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know. But after she heard about my past, she cried. She said she couldn’t stand her own powerlessness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought at first she was just pitying me, but this five-year-old girl was honestly lamenting her helplessness. She heard my story and wished she could do something to help. Then she asked me to wait. She said that if I really wanted to join the knights, she’d help me get powerful enough to make my wish come true.” Lyle looked off in the distance, a sentimental gleam in his eye. “Now that I think about it, she was the first person who really saw me for who I was and wanted to help me. My mother never wanted me, so she hated the very sight of me. And my father never had the least interest in me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Guess nobles have it rough too, huh? But it sounds like Princess hasn’t changed much, even since then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. She was the first person to truly accept me for all that I am, and she won me over. After that, I had no desire to join the knights at all. Actually, the reason why I got the original recommendation from Master was because Mistress brought it up to him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really? I had no idea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Neither did I. Apparently, around the time we started training with Master, she asked him to do it once I had won his favor. Master told me all this later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But you didn’t join the knights in the end.” Dida lightly clapped Lyle on the back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course not. I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than being Mistress’s bodyguard. Besides, I have a partner who’s always got my back.” Lyle clapped Dida on the back in response. Dida just smiled bashfully at him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 10",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 21: The Duke's Daughter Prepares for War",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 21:The Duke’s Daughter Prepares for War",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "THREE DAYS LATER, I headed to the castle to represent Armelia in the meeting of the nobility. Everyone else in attendance was a man—I was the only woman. I wore a tuxedo-cut jacket with a skirt made of the same fabric. I hadn’t been instructed to do so, but it helped me get in the mood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was led to a large conference room separate from the throne room. The seats were placed evenly apart in a semi-circle arcing toward the center, like a parliament chamber. This was a vestige from when the kingdom was founded; Tasmeria became a kingdom after winning over or conquering all the lords of the various regions. In order to avoid chaos when the kingdom was new, they had gathered the lords who governed their various domains in this very room for meetings. Here, the lords had presented their opinions to the king regarding how they thought the kingdom should proceed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several nobles spotted me and whispered amongst themselves. Some were frowning, some threw looks of contempt my way. To be honest, I was incredibly irritated that they made no attempt to hide their reactions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, I spotted my uncle, Marquis Anderson, surrounded by people. He smiled when he saw me. That was all it took to banish my dark feelings, and I smiled at him in return.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The seats had been decided beforehand. They were arranged in order of each family’s rank. I sat in the first seat reserved for a duke’s family. Marquis Marea, who was sitting next to me, scowled in my direction. He had quite the presence, as usual. Even though he was only a marquis, he sat in a seat equal to that of a duke—with an incredibly arrogant attitude, I might add.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I scanned the room, I noted that most of the nobility was in attendance. Even Count Sagitalia and the nobles from Prince Alfred’s faction had come, though they had resigned from their posts. The only one I didn’t see in attendance was Baron Messi.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An attendant announced that the royal family was about to enter, so the room fell instantly quiet. Queen Ellia, Ed, and Yuri appeared from the main doors and took their seats.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have summoned you all here today for one reason and one reason alone—to discuss this kingdom’s next king,” Queen Ellia said in a solemn voice once everyone was settled in their seats. “As you all know, the kingdom is in great turmoil. This is even more reason why we need a strong leader. And what better person is there than Edward?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She phrased it as a question, but it sounded like a statement to me. I was certain the others in the room thought the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The queen is right! No one is more well suited to ascend the throne than Edward! We must all celebrate our new king!” Marquis Marea declared.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The second prince’s faction applauded to echo his words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ed rose from his seat. “Thank you, everyone. I swear to be a wonderful king, one who will live up to your hopes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What a farce.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What a farce.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Amidst the rejoicing, my voice and another overlapped. The dissenting opinions silenced the room, and everyone turned their attention to us.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Anderson! What do you mean, a farce?” Even though I’d said the same thing, Queen Ellia ignored me. Instead, she shouted at my uncle with a glare.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to the kingdom’s laws, the rightful successor to the throne is the oldest child,” said my uncle. “And unless the oldest child is seriously ill or otherwise unable to ascend, they ought to become the ruling monarch. So what else could you call a decision made by the royal family, which violates its own laws, other than a farce?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think someone who hasn’t even deigned to be present would make a better king? Impossible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not for you to decide, Your Majesty. You do not have the power to decide the order of succession. Since the king has passed, the right of succession was immediately passed to his first child. That’s the law of this kingdom. In other words, he does not need the permission of the former queen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As my uncle spoke, Ellia turned her gaze from him to me. It was a spiteful gaze, as if she despised me from the depths of her soul.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And Your Highness,” my uncle continued as he addressed Ed, “you’ve just told us your intention to be a wonderful king. Well, just how do you plan to overcome the difficulties presently plaguing this kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t have to answer to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In fact, you do,” I said. “If you want to continue receiving aid from my domain, that is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why should I listen to you?” Ed scoffed. “I’m the next king! To speak to me in that manner is nothing less than insolence, even if you are a noble!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-that’s right! Someone kick this woman out!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No one moved a muscle, not even the soldiers who stood guard in the chamber. You see, the castle guards who usually stood at that post had been replaced with guards who belonged to my grandfather. They would not move unless under his direct orders. Even though my grandfather had withdrawn from the battlefield, he was still Tasmeria’s hero. Nothing could weaken that power. To be honest, I had never intended to involve my grandfather in this, but here we were.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At least forty percent of the grain and corn you’ve levied has come from my domain,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that’s…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And if you consider the scope of this disaster, it’s no wonder there’s a food shortage. But why has one domain been asked to supply so much of the food when there are so many others to call upon—all of whom are represented here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because your domain is so large! Moreover, a duke’s family should want to do everything it can for the kingdom!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you talking about? Do you have any idea what it means to take forty percent of your levies from a single domain? You truly don’t understand, do you? You know, I was shocked when I heard the results from the survey. I wonder how many citizens will go hungry once my domain stops supplying you with relief? Food production in the capital is especially low, so it wouldn’t take very long for the situation to grow dire. That is why I’m asking. What plans and measures will you take to deal with this problem?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I laughed as I glanced over at the second prince’s faction. Some among them shared Queen Ellia’s reaction, but those who were already experiencing scarcity in their domains averted their eyes uncomfortably.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several other nobles raised their voices in assent. They were either part of the first prince’s or the neutral faction, whom I had already either bought or bribed to join my alliance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You see, Armelia’s assets and rations overwhelmingly surpassed any other domain’s. Thus, I’d gone to negotiate with them all with that card up my sleeve. I’d done so with House Anderson as well. Even though we were related by blood, we both had our own citizens to protect. Our deal, in short, was that they would provide us military strength while Armelia offered them funds. Once our two domains were united under the same flag, many other domains had followed suit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as I arrived in the capital, I’d rushed to visit as many houses as I could, as well as had Tanya deliver letters. The domain north of Armelia was part of the second prince’s faction, so that had been difficult, but since we were separated by mountains and they bordered House Anderson’s domain to the west, they had succumbed to our alliance, as had the domains adjoining them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ed scowled slightly, perhaps surprised to hear that anyone agreed with me. “I’m receiving supplies from you so that disaster doesn’t occur, aren’t I? No other answer is needed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My duchy can’t spare any further resources. My citizens are going hungry. As the acting governor of Armelia, I decline your request to lend further aid to the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?! That’s utter nonsense! You listen here, if you continue to defy the royal family, we’ll send soldiers to Armelia to deal with you appropriately!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You think the kingdom—or you, for that matter—have the support for such an undertaking? If you are really to become king, I believe you’d be better served thinking about your plans very carefully.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Silence! This kingdom is mine! I could have you both arrested for treason right now and seize your domains—and that would solve everything!” Ed’s eyes flared as if he thought he really had a brilliant idea.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea instantly offered their agreement, as did the other members of his faction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the moment I’d been waiting for. The same went for my uncle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, we shall excuse ourselves,” he announced in a cold voice. “Staying here a moment longer is simply a waste of our time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I rose at the same time as he did. Nearly half of the other attendees rose from their seats as well, to show their assent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Everyone, please calm down!” Yuri cried in a loud voice. “Don’t look so angry! Our first priority right now needs to be the citizens!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ed seemed to think her frantic tone admirable, because he beamed at her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s talk this over—for the sake of the citizens!” Yuri went on. “I’m sure Prince Edward’s brother will understand!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Understand what? I thought to myself in confusion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“After all, he’s not even here,” Yuri said. “I’m sure Prince Edward’s brother is a very sensitive man. So…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yuri, you have such a kind heart… Everyone, listen to yourselves! Compared to her, you’re—” Ed broke off. “Just as Yuri said, my brother has been out of the picture for a very long time. He couldn’t handle the pressure of being the first prince. That’s exactly why I’ve been responsible for this kingdom in his stead. I will protect the citizens.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You needn’t be king to protect the citizens, Your Highness. And yet you’ve done absolutely nothing, save for one thing—seek aid from Armelia.” My uncle glared coldly at Ed. “And Miss Yuri, daughter of a baron. This is not a playground for daughters of nobles. You have no right to speak here.” He didn’t even bother looking at her as he spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What…? Th-that’s so mean!” Yuri gasped, shedding tears.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Anderson! How dare you say such cruel words to my fiancée!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are they really cruel?” I muttered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ed turned his spiteful gaze toward me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“‘Please have mercy! I walked all the way here with only water and nothing to eat!’” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ed scoffed at me, as if he had no idea what I was talking about.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“‘Please at least help my children! I don’t care what happens to me as long as my children are taken care of!’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Those were the words I’d heard when I traveled to the border. The voices of the people that would not leave my ears.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“These are the voices of citizens from other domains who traveled to Armelia. You say we are here to speak for the sake of the citizens? Yet what in the world have you done for those citizens to save them from such pain and suffering?” My voice shook with anger. “I have found, due to an investigation, that the sizable levies of food and goods taken from my domain are being stored in the castle and the residences of nobles. You said my uncle’s words were cruel? Your complete inaction while you protect yourselves and abandon the citizens of this kingdom is far, far crueler.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I don’t know anything about that!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Prince Edward is right! If such a thing is true, then it’s been done to frame us!” Yuri exclaimed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ed glared at me again. “Th-that’s right! Anyway, there’s no proof that Lady Iris has even sent us any levies at all! I’m sure this is all a bluff—an attempt to lay the blame on us!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I heaved a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, there’s no point in continuing this,” my uncle said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those standing with our alliance agreed. We of course had receipts and proper records to document our donations to the crown—in other words, definitive proof.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll be going now,” my uncle said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait! If you leave now, then you admit that what I said is true, and I will send every soldier—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I don’t think that would be a very good idea. The royal family doesn’t have as much power as you seem to imagine it does. And if our two houses forsake you now, it will be over for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The room was abuzz with increasing chaos, but then someone else suddenly walked in, and it fell deathly silent. Not even Ed could speak.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The reason for everyone’s shock was not that this man had interrupted a prince, it was that he had appeared through the same doors that the royal family had.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But I was the most shocked out of every person there. Not because someone else had walked through those doors—I couldn’t understand why he had walked through them. What was Dean doing here?!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who are you?” Ed asked, baffled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What a terrible thing to ask of your half-brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!” Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea leapt to their feet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Alfred. Alfred Dean Tasmeria. The rightful heir to the throne of this kingdom.” Dean’s voice struck the room like lightning. He didn’t speak with any particular volume, but it echoed through each corner of the room. A chill ran through everyone who heard it, as if they’d been touched by divine revelation. It had a strange, alluring quality that compelled one to want to do just as he said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what proof do you have of this claim?” Marquis Marea shouted anxiously.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Step away! This man is His Highness, Prince Alfred!” A man appeared from behind Dean, chastising the marquis. “How dare you doubt a member of the royal family! You do realize that’s grounds for treason, don’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When I saw who it was, I couldn’t believe my eyes. My own cousin, Rudy. I had never been more confused in my life.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now, I just heard some very interesting things in this chamber,” said Dean. “‘No one is more well suited to ascend the throne than Edward’? That’s simply false. Because the rightful heir to the throne is the first prince—me. That was the first law put to writing when this kingdom was founded; why, it’s written in our constitution. And absolutely no one has the power to break that law. In fact, you are all under arrest for treason under the grounds of plotting to usurp the crown.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what?! What proof—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Proof again? Well, this very meeting is proof enough. Isn’t that right, Father Rafsimons? You aren’t a noble of this kingdom, so I shall ask you. Did I imagine everything I just heard in this chamber?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, Your Highness. I heard exactly the same thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s what I thought. Quite foolish of you to rush things without confirming my death.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No one will follow you, anyway! Why, your mother was nothing more than the daughter of a count!” Queen Ellia screamed. Her face was twisted with rage, her eyes filled with hatred. As I stared at her, it almost looked like the face she had taken such pains to beautify with makeup was crumbling before our very eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that right? Many in this room rank below a count. How dare you say such a thing? I don’t believe I can allow you to be in this room any longer. Take these two away at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The guards immediately sprang into action.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?! How dare you?! Let go of me at once!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They resisted, but it was useless. The guards dragged Ellia and her father away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Grandfather! Mother!” Ed cried to try to stop them, but they were already gone. “You bastard! How dare you…!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ed lunged toward Dean, but the remaining guards surrounded him and Yuri. She was trembling with fear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can understand why a person might think that Queen Ellia’s claims make sense,” I said to break the tension. I looked straight at Dean. “I wouldn’t say that Prince Edward should be king, but what will change if you ascend the throne? Prince Alfred, it seems as though you have not forsaken us, but if I am to be confident that you won’t, I must know your plan.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment, Dean seemed shocked by my challenge, but then he flashed me a confident smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s the smile of his that I love the most, I inadvertently thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Forsake you? I should be afraid that you might forsake us.” Dean turned to the rest of the gathered. “To you fools who agreed with my younger brother when he foolishly said these two should be arrested and their domains seized: Think carefully. Armelia provides forty percent of the aid to this kingdom, yet life in that duchy remains more prosperous than anywhere else. No other domain could possibly amass as many resources as they have. If this would be easily done. The only reason they haven’t done so yet is because it would require slightly more effort.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-but if we arrest these two, then we can take their goods for the kingdom!” a noble from the second prince’s faction said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As I said, that would be foolish. My brother said he would send the military, but the leader of that military is General Gazell. Not only does the general belong to House Anderson, but that house has a long-standing connection with House Armelia. Moreover, the two domains border each other. If these houses are allied, we cannot send the military to face them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Enough. Even if we took Armelia by force, the kingdom would not have the means to govern it. The citizens would not obey. They are loyal to her—that’s the domain she’s built.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The other nobles flinched at Dean’s words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so happy to hear you think so highly of my domain,” I said. “And that is why I shall ask again—how do you plan to deal with the difficulties that plague our kingdom?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean had defended Armelia, so now it was my turn. I needed to give him the opportunity to have his moment—and to defend his plan. Hence why I sounded so harsh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve already started. I’ve recalled the majority of the counterfeit gold coins in circulation. Only a small number are left floating at the marketplaces. And if any further counterfeits are found, I vow to exchange them for genuine gold. I’ve also developed a means by which to notify the public and spread word about this plan.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My, you’ve already taken them out of circulation? How did you do that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The nobles who sold their stockpiles to a certain merchant immediately used their profits to begin doing business with other merchants.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This clearly rang a bell, as the color drained from several nobles’ faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I used the belongings of the former pope as bait. I couldn’t believe the speed and passion with which they parted with their new gold. It would have been one thing if they were to spend it for the sake of the citizens, but to use it for their own selfish desires? I was speechless.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… So that’s how you got the counterfeit coins out of circulation. You didn’t even impact the kingdom’s economy by doing so. And by using items that had once been owned by the pope, you ensured they were tempting. Additionally, if these nobles had enough gold on hand to purchase them, then the chances were good that they used the counterfeit gold they had just received.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. Then I had the counterfeit gold coins melted down and the impurities removed, then smelted back into pure gold coins. Having confiscated most of the counterfeit gold in this manner, I kept tabs on your actions and immediately confiscated counterfeits from whatever your own people collected. Of course, it will be impossible to catch every single coin, but we’ve done the work. I must credit Marquis Anderson with his tenacity on this issue.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My uncle bowed his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Prince Alfred, what about the critical issue of the food shortages?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have traveled across the sea to another kingdom and negotiated with them. At first, I was planning to recover enough to replace the stockpiles that had been sold, but I could not have foreseen the natural disaster that occurred in my absence. I’m terribly sorry to see my people endure such pain. But the goods I secured from the other kingdom have been delivered upon my return. All that’s left now is to distribute them to each domain. For this, I must thank Father Rafsimons for his help. He sent valuable monetary aid during this crisis on behalf of the Darryl Church.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Despite the mistakes the Church made, Your Highness was so lenient with us,” said Father Rafsimons as he bowed his head. “All I wish is for the money to be used for the citizens of this kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was amazed that he’d so deftly used this opportunity to restore the Darryl Church’s status. Bowing his head to Dean demonstrated his obeisance, while at the same time this public gratitude demonstrated the power of the Church. I was certain that he was doing this to show both publicly and privately that the Church was acting in the right, just as he had aimed for.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The same Church had once demanded donations from the nobles and thrown charity galas. I had a feeling that these events were where the Church’s new donations had come from. There had likely also been some help from whatever funds the queen dowager had secretly stowed away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I am certain this kingdom will know peace and prosperity should you ascend the throne,” I said and bowed my head. “As acting governor, I pledge Armelia’s full support to your claim.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had shown my and House Anderson’s support. Dean had already explained the power of our two domains to the gathered. On top of that, he had just illustrated his own sterling track record. By his own hand, he had laid the path for the kingdom to recover. Anyone who stood against him now would in essence be rejecting the only path to salvation. The only others they could turn to—Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea—had been arrested.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-what a splendid birth of a king we just witnessed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I agree. We just witnessed something magnificent indeed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One by one, those nobles who had supported Ed now praised Dean. The waves of affirmation gradually increased until the entire chamber was filled with applause.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t be fooled!” Ed had been standing there, completely flabbergasted, but now he screamed angrily. “It was said before—there’s no proof that he’s my older brother! His attendant there belongs to House Anderson! He’s nothing more than an impostor, dead set on usurping the crown!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, Yuri turned toward the doors and shrieked. “S-somebody! Help!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” a voice called in response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At her cry, several men wearing knights’ armor rushed in. Ed and Yuri let out sighs of relief at the sight of them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Arrest them! They’re impostors trying to usurp the crown!” Ed howled, but the knights did not move. “Why aren’t you moving?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your Highness, I’m terribly sorry, but that is Prince Alfred. We live to serve the royal family. We cannot possibly turn our sword against one of them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you talking about?! Where is the proof that he is my older brother?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, we had the honor of serving him at the detached palace.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Watching this exchange, Yuri was completely astonished. “No…” she murmured. “No… I don’t know these knights… Where is the knight commander?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The knight commander is under house arrest,” Dean said gaily. “Lord Meleze was a knight in name only, so he never had any right to become the knight commander. There were several such unqualified persons in the knighthood, and they have all been removed from their posts. Now, to continue with what I was saying, I must attend to more pressing matters, so there is nothing more to say on this matter. Shall we move on to the next subject?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone stared, wondering what he would want to talk about—including me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But first—guards! Arrest by brother and Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before the two of them could even shout, the guards surrounding them sprang into action and seized them both.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why…?” Ed croaked as he was arrested.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I told you why. You, your mother, and your grandfather were engaged in a plot to usurp the throne. So it’s only natural that you must face the consequences for that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But Yuri has nothing to do with this!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps. But she is not a member of the royal family, yet she walked into this room through the door reserved for royals, and furthermore, she’s been using funds from accounts reserved for royals. That is nothing less than fraud: impersonating a member of the royal family. Or have she and Edward already been married? Father Rafsimons?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. The Darryl Church has no record of such a union.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then she must be arrested as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let me—” Edward was still trying to protect Yuri. He loved her so much that he wanted to take the arrow for her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d say the larger problem is that you did nothing to stop her,” Dean said to him. “But the responsibility lies with her. Even if you tried to protect her, she has committed various other crimes. You will be jailed separately until sufficient evidence is gathered to prove the case against her. Take them away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please wait! Your Highness! Why would you punish your own flesh and blood, your own younger brother like this? Please reconsider!” Yuri resisted the soldiers and tried to approach Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps that argument would carry weight if we were normal siblings.” Dean murmured, bringing hope into Yuri’s eyes. “But we are royalty. Each drop of blood that flows through our veins exists for this kingdom. And anything that serves to hurt this kingdom must be cut away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No!” Yuri cried weakly, shedding tears—playing the role of the damsel in distress. Several witnesses probably felt sorry for her, the poor girl pleading for her fiancé despite being under arrest herself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean walked over to her. She gazed up at him with desperate eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wanted to scream. Don’t you dare look at him like that!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems as though your friend let many of his comrades into this castle,” said Dean. “I had them all leave, along with him. So don’t imagine that you have a chance to worm your way out of this one.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean leaned toward her and whispered something into her ear. I don’t know what he said, but it must have been something meaningful, because as soon as he pulled away, she let out a bloodcurdling scream.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Everyone in the room stood shocked at her sudden change in demeanor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yuri!” Ed slipped out of the guards’ grasp and ran over to her. “Yuri, are you all right? Yuri!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Yuri did not answer him. All she did was mumble, “It’s a lie, it’s a lie…” over and over again with vacant eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ed stood protectively between her and a guard. “There’s something wrong with her! Take her to the hospital!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A doctor can examine her after she’s jailed. Guards.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The guards moved once more to seize them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stop it! Yuri!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri wept. Ed reached toward her, trying to take hold of her hand. Dean coolly watched as he once more told the guards to take them by force. He was obeyed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now, we got quite off track there, but let’s get back to business,” said Dean. “Shall we, Berne?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing that name come from Dean’s mouth shocked me. I turned to see Berne walk through the doors the other nobles had entered through. The entire chamber was filled with confusion as Berne strode toward Dean. I couldn’t even believe the person I saw was my brother. His hair was cut short, he was incredibly thin, and there were bags under his eyes. The naivete in his eyes was gone, replaced now with a sharpness I’d never seen before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne bowed his head before Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You heard everything, didn’t you? The voices of these fools agreeing with Edward that we should seize Armelia and Anderson’s domains?” Dean chuckled with amusement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne was completely expressionless. Instead, he looked around the room. His piercing gaze shot through everyone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure they will agree with Your Highness’s plan if it benefits the citizens,” Berne said, his eyes growing even more intense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll have Berne explain our plans moving forward. Everyone, listen carefully to him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My brother took a step forward and spoke. He began with a list of nobles. The point was not immediately apparent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The nobles I just named will forfeit their domains and be stripped of their titles.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne’s statement rocked the chamber. This was without a doubt the first time in the history of Tasmeria that so many nobles would have their titles removed. The room was suddenly filled with cursing and shouts. Berne seemed intimidated by this, and he lowered his gaze. The yelling grew even louder at that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They looked to Dean, demanding to know just how their domains would be controlled without them, but he just smiled. Meanwhile, Berne looked up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, the people cursing him all fell silent as they saw his face—or more accurately, his eyes. Berne looked around the chamber, expressionless. His eyes were filled with hatred…and violent anger. Anger so intense, it made the fury displayed earlier seem lukewarm. He didn’t speak, but the way he stared at them made it seem like he was saying “Is that all you’ve got?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He reminds me of your father,” my uncle murmured with amusement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The people whose names I just listed sold their stockpiles for their own profit—even the bare minimum of rations they are, by law, required to keep. Leaders who wrong their own citizens should be removed from their posts at once,” Berne said quietly. But what was quiet about it was his expression, for his voice was filled with just as much malice as his eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-you’re saying we have to give up land that’s been in our family for generations for such a small offense?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A ‘small offense’? That small offense cost thousands, no—tens of thousands of lives!” Berne snarled. His rage seemed to fill the entire chamber.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-what else could we do? My family has been impoverished for quite some time!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We didn’t know a flood was coming! Even Prince Alfred said he couldn’t have foreseen it!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Those rations were supposed to be in place in case of that exact kind of unforeseen disaster. Even if the flooding hadn’t occurred, you were still in the wrong and would still be punished accordingly,” Berne responded coolly to those who protested and complained.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because as I just said, you broke the laws of this kingdom. You didn’t realize you were using counterfeit coins to do business, you wastefully expended your domains’ fortunes, and you brought chaos to the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s—”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But your greatest crime was making deals with an enemy kingdom while we were under a cease-fire.” Berne didn’t say that last sentence loudly. But the words fell heavily on every person in the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what did you say?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You didn’t know? The merchant you did business with—Divan? He’s a vanguard from Tweil. The reason he bought so much food is because he’s sending it back to his kingdom, and in doing so, depleting our kingdom of its resources.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What proof do you have?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stop with the lies!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "None of them would accept Berne’s words—because the moment they accepted it, they knew no mercy awaited them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have proof.” Berne wasn’t worried. He reminded me of how I had been back during my excommunication scandal. I’d had that same look on my face—a confidence that I really had my enemies where I needed them. “Lord Messi has already captured citizens from Tweil who were traversing back and forth across our borders. They told us all about the relationship between Divan and Tweil.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My brother had changed so much since the day he yelled at me about my broken engagement… In a good way, of course.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Furthermore, thanks to Lord Messi, we’ve recovered a portion of the food that was supposed to be sent to Tweil. Some was hidden or already sent by Divan, but the stores we recovered were marked with the family crests of those families I named.” Berne smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “How lucky for us that noble families take so much pride in their name that they brand everything with it, hm? They’re so dedicated to the practice that not even Divan could erase it off everything. Family crests are quite wonderful, so I very much understand the urge.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To me, it sounded like he was saying: “You lot take pride in nothing but for your family name. And that’s what wrapped the noose around your neck.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was all but certain that this was what was going through his mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can take a look at the recovered crates later, if you’d like,” Berne said. “Although I’ve already shown the prince, and he agreed that it was sufficient proof.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then, once you take all of that into consideration, look into a certain baron. Ask yourself why he doesn’t even stay in the capital during the social season.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "These were the words Milo had said that Tanya had reported to me. Of course, she had looked into it. Divan’s company was based in Count Monroe’s domain. No matter how well Divan hid his spoils while they were in the kingdom, ultimately he sent them to Tweil—which meant he had to travel from Count Monroe’s domain through Baron Messi’s. Once Divan reached the Monroe domain, he had a free pass to deliver his goods.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Baron Messi wasn’t in the capital, he was patrolling the border of his domain, which was also the border of the kingdom with Tweil. Lately, he’d spent much more time patrolling the border between his domain and Count Monroe’s. In other words, he had worked vigorously toward gathering evidence to expose the corruption within the kingdom, including Divan’s plans and the secret exchange of goods between Monroe and Tweil.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As such, I’m always in a war frame of mind, if you will.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Baron Messi said that to me on the night I met him. He was right. It was a war, even though there were no actual battles taking place. Dean wasn’t just fighting for the throne against Ed, nor was he merely fighting for power against House Marea in the nobility’s game of musical chairs. He was fighting for the entire kingdom, a much graver responsibility than I had.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And yet he had given me so much help. That thought made tears spring unbidden to my eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean took a step forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your Highness,” said Berne cautiously.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean smiled and held up a hand, so Berne quickly bowed and stood back.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nobles are exalted people,” Dean said. “But they are not exalted by birth. No, they were chosen by the citizens to stand above the rest to guide and protect the people. But some among those who call themselves nobles are arrogant and ignorant; they have forgotten why they stand so high, and instead they look down on those below.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, Dean’s voice struck the room like lightning. This time, there were no arguments or objections. “When one has committed the crime of treason with an enemy kingdom, social status no longer matters,” he said. “No status can change the fact of treachery against your own kingdom, and it must be punished accordingly. Isn’t that correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The members of the first prince’s faction, who had remained seated after Dean appeared, slowly began to stand up, one by one. Then they bowed, one after another, showing their respect to their chosen prince. It was a deep bow, the kind one would perform in the presence of one’s king.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I followed suit and curtsied.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Arrest the persons from the list of names Lord Berne read! And I call this meeting adjourned.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Finally, if you could all remain in the capital for the time being,” said Berne. “In a few days, His Highness will summon you for another meeting.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That meeting shook the kingdom to its core. A few weeks passed, but it felt like longer, because in that short amount of time, the capital changed drastically. Thanks to the aid that Dean secured from other kingdoms, in addition to the stockpiles recovered from the border, life in the city was almost back to normal.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The food and goods I sent to the capital from Armelia were indeed found to have been at the castle and with nobles belonging to Prince Ed’s faction, just as Berne had claimed. These were confiscated and redistributed to the citizens. But perhaps the greatest change was that the vast majority of counterfeit gold coins disappeared from circulation. The marketplaces were once again beginning to bustle with activity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were many changes inside the castle as well. The nobles on Berne’s list were being held under house arrest until their trials. I had a feeling more charges would be filed against them before their trials, as well. Furthermore, due to their crimes, Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea were beheaded. Count Monroe met that same fate.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The treacherous nobles were stripped of their titles, and their lands were confiscated. Not even their distant relatives were allowed to take over for them. Plotting to disrupt the lawful order of succession and bargaining with an enemy kingdom were severe crimes. The close family members of the guilty parties would either be killed or sent to live out the rest of their lives in monasteries and convents.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There wasn’t as much of an interruption in the governance of the kingdom as I feared there might be. Those in the first prince’s faction who didn’t resume their posts were so well regarded in their fields that they took to work for Dean like fish to water.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On one particular day, I was headed to House Anderson. Their mansion was quite close to the Armelia mansion. It didn’t take long at all for my carriage to arrive at their gates. A servant showed me into a room where my uncle awaited me, along with my aunt and my grandfather.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to meet with me today,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, we’re flesh and blood. There’s no need for those formalities. Now sit down,” my uncle said kindly as I bowed to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I did as he said and sat. “Grandfather, Uncle, I can’t thank you enough for your help with recent matters. I’d like to personally express my gratitude, as well as on behalf of Armelia. Thank you so much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nothing could make me happier than helping you, Iris!” My grandfather let out a hearty chuckle, as he always did.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It was a winning strategy. You’re the one who came up with the idea to get out of the deadlock, so there’s no need to thank us.” My uncle smiled gently at me. He had the same smile as Rudy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly, why can’t you just admit it?” my aunt said. “Your uncle was terribly worried about you and Merry, but he said it wasn’t easy to take action just because of his position as governor. So he was thrilled when you came to him with your idea, Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wasn’t worried about Merry! She’s the kind of person who wouldn’t die even if you killed her!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The turn in the conversation immediately relaxed me, and I joined in on the laughter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, we can’t rest easy just yet,” said my uncle. “Not until we see which direction Prince Alfred leads this kingdom in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” said my grandfather. “Rudy thought him worthy enough to be his master, and I trained him myself. I can vouch for his fighting spirit.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true. He has the power to make ideals into reality,” I said. “And his little sister is simply wonderful. I know that she’ll give him a great deal of support as part of the royal family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My uncle looked a bit surprised. “You’ve met Leticia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d let my guard down during the course of the conversation, but it was too late to regret it now. “Y-yes, my mother introduced us. She’s a truly lovely person.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They must have accepted my answer, because no one asked me anything else about her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, Iris,” said my grandfather. “I heard something through the grapevine that I need to ask you about.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?” I tensed up; it was unusual for my grandfather to beat around the bush.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard the prince of Acacia offered you his hand in marriage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I froze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you going to accept?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Naturally, I couldn’t answer him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Father, you’re putting Iris in a difficult position here,” said my uncle. “This isn’t the sort of matter for us to meddle in.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, forgive me. I was just worried. Iris, I want you to put your own future first. You remember what I said before? I meant it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t have to force yourself to marry. You can stay at home and do whatever makes you happy. And if you ever find yourself with nowhere to go, you can always come to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled, thinking of these words that he’d said to me so long ago.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for your concern,” I said. “I will be discussing that matter with my father, and we shall decide from there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My heart ached a bit when I said that. Truthfully, I already knew my answer. My heart just hadn’t caught up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I thought of how Dean had looked in the chamber before the nobility. I wanted to see him. At the same time, he was the last person I wanted to see, because he was the only one who could sway me from my decision. I needed to take action as soon as possible, before any lingering feelings or regrets forced me to stall.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not long afterward, I received an invitation, just as Berne had said we would. There were even some individuals in attendance this time who hadn’t seen fit to be present at the previous meeting. I attended to represent my father, just as I had last time. Once again, I was the only woman in the chamber.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone took their seats. A few moments later, Dean entered the room. Rudy and Berne followed him. “Thank you all for coming. I’ll get straight to the point—I’d like to discuss my future plans for the kingdom, and I ask you all to listen to me with open hearts and open minds.” He glanced at Berne.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne nodded and began to speak. While everyone focused their attention on my brother, I stared at Dean while I listened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He seemed so far away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was profoundly disrespectful to think of a member of the royal family in such a way, but in some ways, he was much closer to me now than when he had been merely Dean. Yet for some reason, he also felt much, much farther away from me than when he had been in Armelia by my side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I suppose that only made sense. We both had our own responsibilities and duties to bear. I would never compromise on that, and I knew he wouldn’t either. Once, we had been walking down the same road in the same direction, but things were different now. We had started down different paths. He was so close—so close that I could reach out and touch him…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I never imagined my heart would ache with such sadness. I reached up and clasped my hand to my chest.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Never could I have dreamed that our first meeting would lead to such things. I’d come prepared that day, but this one was different. The distance between us made that all too clear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne continued speaking as I lost myself in my reverie. He declared that all the confiscated domains were to be claimed under the crown. Officials from the palace would be sent to each domain as inspectors, to ensure something of this nature never happened again. They would furthermore be granted the power to interfere in the governance of domains. This was done with two goals in mind. First, to better enable the spread of policies set forth by the kingdom. Second, to engender mutual accountability between the governors and inspectors sent from the castle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was sure it wouldn’t be long before an inspector was sent to Armelia. Up until now, I’d had complete freedom to reform Armelia as I saw fit, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be so simple anymore. Not only that, but after I saw Berne’s performance at these meetings, I had a hunch that my days as acting governor of Armelia were numbered either way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The meeting continued smoothly. No one really objected to anything. That made sense, as the vast majority of attendees were members of the first prince’s faction. They were already in his camp to begin with.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I found myself recalling when Count Sagitalia had leaked these ideas to me at his party.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m confident the prince could succeed. He can change our systems and build the one true kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The purpose of today’s meeting was clear: it was the first step to strengthening the monarchy. Even though the neutral faction understood this, they did not object. Perhaps they found it difficult to speak up when the majority of the attendees were of the first prince’s faction, but likely they also feared causing a commotion. They sensed that no matter what objection they raised, Berne would swiftly refute it with sound reasoning. While his outer change had come as a surprise, he had clearly changed within as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne faced the cunning vipers and the sly foxes that had vied with each other in the castle for decades and silenced them all without budging one bit. Word of his intimidating presences had already traveled around the castle. I wasn’t sure who had said it first, but word was that the fire in our bloodline certainly hadn’t died out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now, when Berne received new information, he had it thoroughly investigated before coming to a conclusion, so unlike that time when he had confronted me about my broken engagement. He’d really grown up and shed his old skin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While I was lost in my thoughts, one of the nobles spoke for the first time at this meeting. “May I say something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As you wish, Lord Dungley.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Speaking of the Dungleys, I was certain that Mimosa’s wedding had been called off, given that her fiancé belonged to one of the families on Berne’s list. I had also sent him the lists that Moneda and Tanya had made to ensure these families wouldn’t escape from their crimes. I’d have to send a letter of congratulations to Mimosa soon, although the idea of congratulating someone on a broken engagement seemed odd.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I understand your proposals going forward very well, but I’d like to ask about His Highness’s coronation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can answer that,” Dean answered before Berne could. “As you all know, this matter has left lasting effects on the kingdom. Therefore, I am prioritizing settling the matters at hand, so my coronation won’t be for another year.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I understand Your Highness’s arguments. However, and please forgive me for saying this, it’s an undeniable fact that the flames of the opposing faction are still smoldering. The fact that Prince Edward has not yet been punished is proof enough of that. I believe His Highness should take the throne immediately to solidify his position and demonstrate to all that he is our king.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I take heed of your warning, Lord Dungley. I’ll make arrangements to hold the coronation as soon as possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Marquis Dungley bowed his head and took his seat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shortly after, the meeting was called to an end. We were told we were free to either return to our domains or remain in the capital. Personally, I wanted to hurry back to Armelia, but I hadn’t decided what to do just yet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was about to leave when a servant stopped me. “Lady Iris, His Highness Prince Alfred wishes to see you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I froze for a moment. The servant handed me a letter, and it was indeed penned in Dean’s handwriting. I couldn’t believe he was summoning me now, of all times.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. I’ll go right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The letter was genuine, but one could never be too careful, so I elected to have Tanya come with me. The servant led me to a courtyard inside the castle. Dean was already sitting there. He gestured for me to sit in front of him, so I did so. For a moment, Tanya looked surprised when she saw Dean, but she soon recovered her poker face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lady Iris of Armelia, I welcome you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I plastered a smile onto my face. “I am honored to be here, Your Highness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please allow me to introduce myself to you once more. I am Alfred Dean Tasmeria, the first prince of this kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was his farewell. Perhaps he didn’t think of it that way, but that was what it sounded like to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And I am Iris Lana Armelia.” Even though we knew each other well, we introduced ourselves as if we were meeting for the first time. Since he was so far above me in status, I couldn’t call him by name until he introduced himself to me, and I to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In this instant, Dean was in all ways a prince, and I a noblewoman. Here, the past we shared together did not exist.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry for the trouble I’ve caused for both you and Armelia. Please allow me to formally apologize.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t deserve such a thing, Your Highness. I only performed my obligation as a noble.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, you—I mean, Lady Armelia, you are more of a noble than any other I’ve ever known,” Dean said with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wasn’t entirely sure if that was a compliment, but my heart ached. I had seen that same smile so many times.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Silence fell between us, a stark contrast to all those days when we were so pressed for time, neither of us could stop talking to the other.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean waved his hand, dismissing his servants from the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya. Leave us,” I said when she didn’t move.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…” Tanya hesitated and looked back and forth between me and Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was slightly inappropriate to be alone with the prince, but this wasn’t a private room—we were outside under the vast sky.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now it was only me and Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His manner of speech immediately changed. “So were you surprised?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite. Never in a million years did I guess that I would see you there that day.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though I couldn’t see them, I knew there were people nearby—guards, at the very least. That was why his question was so vague, and I kept my answer the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I went on. “But at the same time, I finally understood why someone like you had appeared in front of someone like me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew better than anyone that Dean was highly educated, so much so that it had never seemed plausible that he came from a simple merchant’s family. In that sense, I wasn’t so much surprised that he’d turned out to be the first prince as I was satisfied by the explanation. I suspected he’d come to Armelia to observe me. After all, I was the daughter of a duke who had been expelled from school, suddenly made governor, yet I wasn’t just sitting on my hands—I had instantly taken action.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean laughed wryly. Apparently, my hunch was correct. I laughed inadvertently as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” Dean looked at me curiously, given my sudden change in demeanor.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, it’s not important. I was just thinking.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It really wasn’t that important. I had only been thinking of why he came to see me. Then I’d realized it didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t hold his deception against him, and it didn’t upset me either. I couldn’t be angry or alarmed that he had kept his true identity from me. After all, I had accepted his subterfuge from the beginning, even though I had nursed suspicions all along about his origins. Furthermore, both my grandfather and mother had both known and trusted him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No, that was pure sophistry. At some point, neither my acceptance of his artifice nor his apparent accolades had even mattered anymore. I’d told myself that as long as Dean was by my side, it didn’t matter who he was. I’d thrown out all questions of why. That was why I had absolutely no right to blame him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I thought about that, I laughed. I laughed at myself for still being captivated by him even this late in the game. It seemed that love was a terrible illness.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, Your Highness… Why was Berne with you?” I pushed away my feelings and changed the subject.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Louis recommended him to me. Apparently, Berne went through quite the shocking experience. He showed up before me one day, saying he’d do anything as long as we could change the direction in which this kingdom was headed. I could tell he’d become quite a different person from the Berne I remembered.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was surprised to see that too. When I saw him at the meeting, I nearly didn’t recognize him—inside or out. Especially the inside… I wondered what must have happened, to give him such resolve.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wondered the same thing, and I asked. All he said was, ‘I saw hell on earth.’ It seems he visited a domain of one of the nobles who he named, and the conditions there were most cruel.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“After seeing this, perhaps because he once took pride in being a noble, he came to despise the nobility, including himself. That was why he came to work under me. He was the one who devised the majority of this system that will give the monarchy more direct control. He worked tirelessly with both my people and Armelian officials to gather sufficient evidence to ensure those guilty nobles will be held accountable. He barely stopped to take a breath while he gathered the evidence to shed light on this situation. He worked so hard that I really do have to wonder if he was sleeping.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well, I’m most pleased to hear that he’s been of service to Your Highness.” I was staying in the mansion in the capital, yet I’d not seen a speck of Berne. I had thought he was merely busy, though it seemed that he certainly was. As a member of House Armelia, I was awfully pleased by his growth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d like to thank you for letting me have Berne. We’ve made various decisions about numerous things, but this issue is far from resolved. It has left lasting effects on each domain. There is still so much left to do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand,” I said. “This kingdom has lost so much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean gave me a troubled smile. “I did the best I could. I did everything I could. But I don’t hear the screams of those we’ve lost. I understand that there are things we can’t recover.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If this were a game, this would have been the happy ending. The moment would fade to the title screen, and the player could reset and do better next time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But this was reality. By no miracle could I start all over again. I wasn’t God. It was ridiculous of me to even think that I could save everyone and everything.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then again, I didn’t regret a thing. I wasn’t going to run away or give up on anything. However, the idea that I could have done a little bit more plagued my thoughts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The results are everything,” said Dean. “Even if we do all we can, it doesn’t change reality, where there were people neither you nor I could save.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But that burden isn’t yours to bear. You did do your best. And the one who is ultimately responsible for it all is the one who sits on the throne: me.” The expression on Dean’s face was one of resolve—as if he had tried to swallow up all of his sadness and anger at once. His tone was the same as the one I’d grown so used to hearing back in Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“De—” I started to say his name.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But the wry smile on his face stopped me. It was like he was telling me to go no further.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I ask something?” he asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you wish to ask, Your Highness?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would you grant the kingdom’s officials the chance to learn at Armelia’s academy of higher learning?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to let out a chuckle at the sudden change of topic. “Local and national governments are very different. I’m not sure how helpful they would find the courses at the academy…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe it is important for the monarchy to learn from local governments. Besides, that’s not all they can learn at the academy. They should be educated in far more than bureaucratic policy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Forgive me for saying this, but there is still a shortage of teachers in Armelia. It would be quite difficult for us to take on kingdom officials at this point.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not saying I’d send them all at once. I could assign them in small groups, just as you do with the Armelian officials. And I think it would be best for them to study for a fixed period of time, like an exchange program.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, it would depend on how many officials and for how long. Allow me to consult with the headmaster.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think you should bring this opportunity up with Berne as well, since sooner or later, he will become governor of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you resigning…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I’m a woman, after all. Sooner or later, I’ll have to go off and get married.” I didn’t even mean to blurt it out. But it was already a foregone conclusion in my mind. My heart just hadn’t caught up yet. Perhaps that was why the words fell so naturally from my mouth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dean looked shocked. “You’re saying yes to his proposal?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His expression was so serious, and that shocked me. But I supposed it was only natural for the first prince, the future king of this nation, to know everything that happened within the borders of his kingdom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Why in the world had I brought it up in the first place?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I debated long and hard over whether to deny it, even so. At last, I forced out a word. “Yes…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was his only response. A reaction neither negative nor positive. Just a reaction. But to me, it sounded as if he approved.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The shock of that filled me with sadness. How unbelievably selfish of me. I was the one who’d brought it up, so what right did I have to be heartbroken? I couldn’t stand it. Somewhere deep within me, I had hoped he might object…and ask me to be with him instead. That shallow desire made me sick with myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” asked Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the second time he’d asked me that in this courtyard. That simple inquiry, and our solitude, just went to show how terribly I’d let down my guard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me, Your Highness. But is that all?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m terribly sorry, but I haven’t been feeling well lately… So if you’ll excuse me.” I stood up, forcing the meeting to an end.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I bowed, then fled the courtyard. Why? I thought, again and again, and I blamed myself the entire time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hadn’t I learned anything from Ed? Love makes everyone a fool. You fall and you fall, until you drown. You hope that happens to the one you love as well. You hope they fall and drown as terribly as you do—no, even more. You want them to lose themselves so hopelessly in you that they can’t even breathe.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s what I wished for. Without even considering his feelings, I had done the same thing again. I got my hopes up and then grew upset when things didn’t go my way. I was pouting like a child whose toy had been taken away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At some point I realized that Tanya was walking behind me. She must have followed me the moment I left the courtyard. She didn’t say a word; she just silently shadowed my footsteps.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once I reached a spot near the entrance, I stopped. Even though my heart felt so heavy with emotion, for some reason, my chest felt lighter than usual. I reached up to my bosom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I lost it! I always wore my pocket watch around my neck, except for when I wore low-cut dresses to parties, but it was gone. Lost. The revelation made every last drop of blood drain from my face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady?” Tanya paused, concerned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya, I’m sorry…but I forgot my pocket watch back there. Will you go back and get it for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please. I can’t lose it, no matter what. But I also can’t go back there. I’ll stay here and wait. Please.” I was fully aware that I was revealing more weakness than I ever usually did. But I could not leave this pocket watch behind, especially now of all times.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. Stay here then, my lady.” Tanya hesitated a bit before leaving my side, but she finally relented.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will.” I watched her go and obediently waited for her. I placed a hand on my chest. That gesture had become such a habit of mine. Honestly, though, what was I hoping for? Even if the pocket watch were returned to me, what would it do? Looking back on those happy times would only grieve me further.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stared absently out at the garden until I felt someone approaching me. I thought it was unusual that Tanya had come back so soon, but when I turned around, I laid eyes on Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before I could even ask what he was doing there, he took me by the hand and started to walk. This unusual assertiveness filled me with confusion. He pulled me into a nearby empty room and let go of my hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean!” I finally said the name that had been so difficult for me to articulate before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He held something out toward me. “Here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was the pocket watch I’d sent Tanya back for.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You picked it up for me? Thank you.” I looked at him, waiting to take it back. Then I suddenly remembered I’d called him by his name, just like I’d done before. “…Forgive me, Your Highness, for addressing you so rudely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment I said that, a sad and troubled smile spread across his face. “I thought perhaps you left this behind because you didn’t need it anymore.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your Highness…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you really going to say yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It took me a moment to realize what he was referring to. When I did, I looked into his eyes. They looked so weak, as weak as his voice when he asked me that question. I’d never seen him like this before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Without thinking, I reached up to caress his cheek. I’d forgotten every bit of decorum, it seemed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry for asking such a question,” he said as he placed his hand over mine.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No… No.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean wanted to know if I was serious. That was why he’d come after me, to ask again. That was more than enough for me. His eyes said more than his mouth ever could. He was so conflicted that he couldn’t even say it out loud.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As the future king, I should be congratulating you. This union could be of no greater benefit to this kingdom.” It almost sounded as if he were making an excuse to himself. “And yet…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No other words were necessary. Or rather, my good sense was telling me I couldn’t let him continue. My love was nothing more than a burden to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "First of all, he was right; a marriage between an Acacian prince and House Armelia would greatly benefit the kingdom. I hadn’t thought of a single reason to turn down the prince’s offer. Furthermore, staying in Armelia would never bring me any advantages. I was Ed’s former fiancée, a man who was currently jailed on suspicion of treason. Even though our engagement had been broken long ago, it would still forever be associated with my name.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So even if I were to become engaged to the first prince, there would surely be nobles who objected, even among those close to him. Although, it was possible that the noble closest to him, Rudy, would think it only natural for me to marry Dean, when you considered the influence and power of our family.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But it was far too risky for Dean to choose me. He was to become the next king, and I was a liability. If I became his fiancée, House Armelia would in time turn into the next House Marea, whether we liked it or not. Moreover, the people would fear that the nobility was once more controlling the monarchy, which would only serve to weaken the royal family’s authority. Discord remained among the nobility, and the situation in the kingdom was in disarray. I couldn’t possibly permit myself to plant more seeds of strife.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even if I weren’t such a problematic choice, there were always other women, many far more suitable as a match for a king—someone who would be of greater political benefit. I had known it all along. I knew it. I just didn’t want to admit it. No matter what.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean.” I whispered his name. He lifted his gaze and met mine. “You were already mine a long time ago, weren’t you?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His eyes opened wide with surprise, but then he smiled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I was.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My entire body trembled with happiness. That was enough for me. Now I knew he felt the same for me as I did for him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re a cog in the wheel of this kingdom,” I said. “And so am I. We aren’t meant to collide. Even if we travel down different paths, we’ll continue on in the same direction. So, knowing that, I can go anywhere and do anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stepped away from him. “I’m so deeply grateful for your feelings, Your Highness. And so, I’ll take those feelings as a parting gift as I offer myself up for the greater good of my domain, and our kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now it was time to say farewell, selfishly, to my selfish feelings. It was profoundly self-serving. But I couldn’t bear to see him like this any longer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dean didn’t say anything else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you’ll excuse me, Your Highness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, I left him. I went out of the room and returned to where I had been waiting before. Tanya was already there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady!” she cried out, which was unusual for her—she must have been concerned when I wasn’t where she’d left me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry I left without a word.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m just glad you’re safe, my lady. Please forgive me. I was unable to find your pocket watch. I shall come back to look for it after I escort you home in the carriage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t worry, Tanya. Actually, I looked in my dress again, and I realized it was caught on the fabric. I’m sorry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please don’t apologize. I’m just glad you found it, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks. Ah, Tanya? Will you follow me, no matter where I go?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wondered if I would ever regret this decision. I was certain I would. If that time ever came, I was sure I would wonder what would have happened if I’d made another choice. But right now, this was the best decision for me. I had to trust in that and move forward. Because I’d just said goodbye to my sweet dream.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, Tanya and I returned to the mansion in the carriage. Strangely, I felt calm.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, once I returned home, for some reason, the air was tense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Am I nervous to tell my family my decision? I wondered as I headed toward my father.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, I’m glad you’re home.” My mother’s stern tone almost took my breath away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s wrong?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tweil has sent soldiers across the border. The war has started once again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My entire mind went blank.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Deep in a jail reserved for those of the upper-class, where other nobles were held prisoner…Yuri was also held. She stared absently out the barred window. Sometimes, she would mutter to herself.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s all this commotion in the castle? You, over there. You go check and see what’s going on.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But there was no one there. There was never anyone else in the room besides her, other than to bring her meals or a change of clothes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I see! So everything’s going according to plan!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She didn’t seem bothered that she received no answer. Within her mind, she was giving orders to an invisible lady-in-waiting, who had just left the room to carry out those orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Divan, I knew you would come for me. Yes, I know. That’s right. There’s no way you would abandon me. The first prince is so full of nonsense.” Yuri smiled with relief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re just a doll. A doll that Divan made.” He—the first prince—had scornfully said that in her ear. “A sad, sad doll abandoned by her maker. I heard that Divan left the capital long ago, along with his cronies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "These were the words she had uttered before she let out that scream in the chamber.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Divan left the capital? she thought. He abandoned me?!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But that didn’t matter anymore. Because…",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This kingdom will be destroyed soon anyway. I was foolish to become so attached to becoming its queen.” She laughed to herself. “Now hurry up and come get me, Divan.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But as always, there was no one to hear her mutterings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 11",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afterword",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "VOLUME 4. I can’t believe the story got this far. I’m so grateful to all of my readers. It’s been almost two years since I first published this story on the internet. Even writing that sentence makes me feel nostalgic. It’s surprising how fast time flies, isn’t it? Time passes by so quickly after you become an adult, compared to when you were a child. I heard that long ago, but lately I really feel as if it’s true.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To change the subject, recently, one of my friends asked how I got the idea for this story in the first place. Actually, it came to me before I fell asleep. The idea just popped into my head one night, and I quickly jotted down the gist of it and filled in the details later. Since I wrote it down before I slept, there were some things on the paper which didn’t make much sense to me when I read it again. I tried to decipher the notes, but I had no luck at all. It made me wish I were a codebreaker. But for a code to work, the maker of the code has to make it decipherable in the first place!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, there were many things from my original notes that proved difficult to fit into the story, once I actually started writing it. The fact that the story has come this far is really a testament to the readers who have supported me this whole time, and I’d like to use this opportunity to thank you all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To Haduki Futaba, thank you so much for your wonderful illustrations. Every time I see Futaba-san’s drawings, they exceed my imagination. My characters have truly come to life. It inspires me to write even more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To Suki Umemiya, thank you so much for an incredible manga. This time, Volume 4 of the light novel and Volume 2 of the manga were published simultaneously, so I was really looking forward to that. It’s an honor to see a story I’ve written come out in manga form.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d also like to thank my editor for all their wonderful advice. And to my friends and family, thank you for all of your support.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, to my readers. Thank you so much for buying this book. I only made it this far thanks to all of your support and encouragement. Thank you. I’ll do my very best to make sure we meet again in the next volume.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "—REIA",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 12",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you for reading!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Get the latest news about your favorite Seven Seas books and brand-new licenses delivered to your inbox every week:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sign up for our newsletter!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Or visit us online:",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "newsletter",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter: 13",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Table of Contents",
"loss": null
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{
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"value": "Table of Contents",
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{
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"value": "Color Inserts",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Table of Contents Page",
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{
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"value": "Title Page",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Characters",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 18: The Duke's Daughter Rejoices in Daily Routine",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 19: The Duke's Daughter Sets off Sparks",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 20: The Duke's Daughter Mourns",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 21: The Duke's Daughter Prepares for War",
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{
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"value": "Afterword",
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{
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"loss": null
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{
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"loss": null
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"loss": null
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{
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"value": "@page { margin: 0; padding: 0; }",
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"value": "div.ImageContainer { width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; }",
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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"value": "Chapter: 5",
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"value": "Characters",
"loss": null
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"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
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"value": "Chapter: 6",
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"value": "Copyrights and Credits",
"loss": null
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{
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"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
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"value": "Chapter: 7",
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 22: The Duke’s Daughter and Her Mother’s Strength",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 22:The Duke’s Daughter and Her Mother’s Strength",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "WHILE IRIS ATTENDED the meeting of nobles at the capital upon invitation from Queen Ellia, her mother, Merellis, was at House Anderson—the sparring grounds of House Anderson, to be more precise. The Andersons prided themselves in their esteemed reputation as a strong military house, so the sparring grounds in the mansion courtyard rivaled even that of the royal palace. Originally, the space had been used by personal bodyguards of House Anderson to train. Now it was reserved for those lucky few deemed worthy to train with the hero General Gazell.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The most skilled fighters in the kingdom stood there in awe as Merellis practiced—no, actually engaged in a true duel—as they watched.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, did you see the way she just moved?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, it was too fast.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They were stunned by her fighting prowess, her uncanny swordsmanship. She moved so quickly, it was almost as if she could see the future moves of her opponents before they happened. They fell before her, one after another.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is she?!” someone cried out as he watched the fights.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two men heard that—Kreuz, the lieutenant general of the kingdom, and Shrey, the captain of House Anderson’s guard—and they exchanged amused glances.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t blame him for being surprised,” Kreuz murmured.",
"loss": null
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{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shrey nodded. “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? We know the story, but look. Even people who’ve seen her train before are frozen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Her intensity is completely new. Before, it was clear she just trained to keep in shape.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It makes sense. General Gazell himself recognized her skills. Although you’d never guess it to look at her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis had a slender frame, so delicate a man might be afraid he’d break her if he held her too tightly. And she was beautiful. Her physical appearance just didn’t align with the unabashed fighting spirit she displayed as she wielded her sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly, I’m more shocked that she’s General Gazell’s daughter, and a noblewoman to boot!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Same…” Shrey chuckled wryly and agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The pair had first met Merellis back before she made her debut into high society. She had been training with the guards ever since she was a little girl, under the name “Mer,” telling everyone she was Merellis Reiser Anderson’s body double and bodyguard. They learned later that it had been her decision to conceal her identity. Back before her debut, the only people who’d known Merellis’s face had been her family and a handful of servants. So of course, when they met Mer, neither Kreuz nor Shrey had any idea who she actually was. Not to mention, the way she’d spoken and carried herself had been a far cry from the proper decorum of a noble girl.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And anyway, what daughter of a noble could train with a fighting spirit that rivaled their own? They only discovered the truth of her identity quite some time after they had all begun training together. In fact, not many people here now knew who she was, including the Anderson family guards, but especially the members of the military. In truth, her identity on these grounds had been kept a closely guarded secret to this day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wouldn’t have done Merellis’s reputation any favors if people found out that the wife of a duke was wielding a sword, but her main priority was hiding her unusual strength.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She’s even better than before.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No… I think it’s more accurate to say she’s just back to where she used to be.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even as a child, she had been known for her exceptional prowess. She had tirelessly devoted herself to her training, determined to avenge her mother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She said it wasn’t enough.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wasn’t enough?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm. She said, ‘I’ve been pretending everything is peaceful, but it’s not. Because you never know when someone can threaten your peace.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, she’s talking about the duke,” said Shrey.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kreuz looked surprised. “You know about that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I got the gist from the marquis.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, I see. She feels right terrible about it. She said, ‘When I saw my husband had been attacked, I was so upset, I made a grave mistake. I should have interrogated the culprits to learn who was behind it.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True. It was a regrettable error.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re being pretty hard on her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If it had been anyone else, I’d be impressed and say, ‘A job well done, protecting the duke!’” said Shrey. “But when I take her strength into consideration, I would expect nothing less from her. After all, she killed the attackers in an instant. But if she had left behind one or two, they certainly would have talked. There’s no way they wouldn’t have been terrified of her, after seeing her fight.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kreuz smiled dryly, nodding in agreement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While they were chatting, the next duel began. Once again, Merellis faced off against several soldiers at once. She fought one mock battle after the other, yet she showed no signs of fatigue. In fact, her movements became sharper with each one.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It gives me chills just thinking about the way she fought.” Shrey had a faraway look in his eyes as he remembered, like the image had been burned into his mind. He was thinking of the days they’d spent fighting by her side. The ferocity of Merellis’s inner fire gave him goosebumps. She was daring and courageous, inspiring those who followed her in the depths of their souls, pushing them to be like her. And when she was covered in blood, she had an unapproachable aura—a kind of fleeting, heroic beauty.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Back then, she was just a wild beast. Now she fights like a beast with experience, and that’s far more fearsome. If she keeps this up, she’ll be back to her old self in no time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No one here knew her meritorious deeds or just how well she could fight. The only ones privy to that information were the very upper echelons of the top brass in Tasmeria: her father, General Gazell, the late former Duke Armelia, and the current Duke Armelia, her husband. A handful of others knew, such as her personal soldiers who’d sworn allegiance to the Anderson family, like Shrey; and Kreuz, who had served as Gazell’s right hand man since Merellis’s time in the field. Not even the queen dowager, who held the true power and influence in the kingdom, knew the entirety of Merellis’s strength and achievements. These accomplishments had either been kept secret or had been credited to the general, never meant to become public.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They would certainly never dare reveal that the daughter of a marquis—the daughter of the general—was a mighty warrior herself. Thus, her true identity had always been shrouded in secrecy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lieutenant General.” A soldier hesitantly approached Kreuz, who flicked his gaze toward him. “Who in the world is that woman? She’s making me lose confidence in my own abilities…” he said weakly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shrey burst out laughing. “Don’t worry. Everyone who comes to train here has had to go through this. She’s the ultimate weapon of House Anderson—General Gazell’s number-one student and one of the strongest warriors I know. I won’t say to fight like her, but you’d do well to carefully study how she moves.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, sir.” The soldier seemed even more bewildered at Kreuz’s serious answer. That made Shrey laugh even harder.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shrey.” The subject of their conversation suddenly interrupted them. It seemed Merellis had finished. She had won every match, of course. “I’ve finished up with the soldiers. Next I’d like to take on the members of House Anderson’s guard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-hang on a second, Merell—I mean, Mer. You’ve been sparring all day! Why don’t you think about taking a break?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m only doing as much as I used to.” Merellis tipped her head to the side. She knew that Shrey was well aware of her old regimen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true, but…” Shrey glanced around and saw the House Anderson guards take a step backward. They’d trained on these grounds since the start of their service, so they knew just how strong she was. Since she seemed to be even stronger now, it was no wonder that they were apprehensive.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Mer! I didn’t realize you were here today.” Luckily, General Gazell happened to appear at the most favorable moment, saving Shrey and Kreuz. Earlier, the general had been obligated to step away for a bit due to business, and Merellis had appeared during his absence. This was the first he’d seen of her today.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Thank you for allowing me to do so, General. You’ve trained a number of strong soldiers here.” Merellis answered her father, speaking to him not as his daughter but as “Mer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good, good. By the way, there’s something I need to talk to you about. Will you come with me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. If you’ll excuse me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The pair walked away together, leaving Shrey, Kreuz, and the rest of the soldiers watching after in astonishment.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment Merellis entered the general’s private room, she dropped her “Mer” facade and spoke to him as his daughter.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure you shouldn’t be back at the mansion today?” her father asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d still be worried about Iris. I’m embarrassed to admit that my husband saw how uneasy and restless I was, so he suggested I go move around to clear my head a bit,” Merellis said with a deep sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s just what I’d expect from Louis. He knows you well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Training was part of Merellis’s daily routine. She found it much easier to concentrate during it, and it calmed her to have a sword in hand. “He does. It’s just like Louis to tell me that. It reminds me of why I fell in love with him in the first place.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The general chuckled heartily as his daughter gushed. “How is he feeling, by the way?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s much better than before.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad to hear it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure. But he’s saying he wants to return to work. It’s all I can do to stop him at this point.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that right? Well, as long as he’s feeling better, what’s wrong with it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True,” she admitted with a sheepish grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, I’ve got some good news for you. Second Prince Edward, as well as all House Marea and their followers, have been taken into custody.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Merellis froze. Then she let out a deep sigh of relief. “I see… So it’s finally happened. Prince Alfred has claimed victory, at long last.” She smiled softly, a hint of expectation in her voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm. We’ve finally acquired the power to ensure the kingdom will stabilize as soon as possible. The next step is resecuring the domains, but at the very least, His Highness has very capable people working for him in the castle. I don’t know the details myself, but according to Louis, most of the recent governing decisions were coming directly from the prince already.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s what it sounds like. Then Prince Edward and House Marea made such obstacles of themselves… He had to pull a number of strings behind the scenes to remain unnoticed, and it seems there were times when his hands were tied and he couldn’t take the actions he wanted. Now that the tides have turned, I’m certain he’ll have all the power he needs.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He needs to succeed as soon as possible to minimize the chaos and confusion. I hope he uses that capable power of his to do so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have there been any signs of movement from the enemy?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The general frowned at Merellis’s question. “Has Louis been looking into it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, although he hasn’t told me explicitly. Iris has come to the same conclusion, has she not?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris… She has a brilliant mind,” the general said. “Almost too brilliant.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Doesn’t she? We ought to tell Dida, Lyle, and Tanya that they need to keep an even more of a watchful eye on her. After all, the people who attacked my husband were from that kingdom. We can’t be certain that Iris isn’t in danger.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure about that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Call it a hunch. They dressed themselves like bandits, but I could tell they’d been properly trained. They all wielded their blades in the exact same style. That’s just my instinct as someone who’s crossed swords with their compatriots before. And the people standing most stolidly in their masters’ way—and the way of Prince Edward and House Marea—are Prince Alfred, my husband, and perhaps you. Although I can’t say who’s really pulling the strings behind the curtains—our enemies abroad or right at home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Then you’re right, and we need to warn Iris’s bodyguards.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. Also, if things get dire, I’m going to fight too.” Merellis said, choosing her words carefully.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The general’s eyes widened. He saw the strength of resolution in her eyes, along with a gleaming fire that he hadn’t seen for some time. He let out a small sigh. “Very well, then. There’s no one you can’t face, after all. I know you can play it by ear if a fight arises. Merry, can I ask you something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why didn’t you ever teach Iris and Berne how to use a sword?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis chuckled to herself. “Well, the first reason is because neither of them wanted to. You can’t make progress in something you’re not willing to learn, and you’ll never get truly stronger that way either.” Merellis was very strict when it came to training, but she knew training only worked if a person had the resolve to put themselves through the stringent demands required. “It was partly my selfishness as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fighting spirit that had burned in her eyes just moments ago vanished, replaced by a sadness. “In the beginning, the reason I picked up the sword was vengeance. The moment I realized that wish wouldn’t come true, I made another wish: that there would never be another who felt the pain I had—the pain of having someone you protected taken from you, followed by the hatred that drives you thereafter. That was why I continued wielding my blade, coating my hands in blood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My children don’t know any of this. They don’t know how it feels to want to take a life or the hatred that comes with it. They have had no reason to know such things; they are the ones who have been building our future. Why should they pick up a sword in times of such peace? Not to mention, as members of House Armelia, they are expected to prioritize their studies. You put all that together, and I imagine that’s why I never asked them to carry a blade.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So in other words, you didn’t want them to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha… Yes, I suppose that’s the more concise way of putting it. But as I said, if they had truly wanted to learn swordsmanship from the bottom of their hearts, I would have allowed it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But it turns out that even though they haven’t directly bloodied their hands, they’ve ended up responsible for a great many lives, due to their positions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true,” the general agreed with a knowing smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I should be going now. Thank you for informing me of Prince Alfred’s victory—and Iris’s.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Certainly. Be careful on your way home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I will.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Merellis left House Anderson. After a few minutes, the carriage brought her back to the Armelia mansion in the capital.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome home, Your Grace.” Her servants greeted her as she walked inside. She headed straight to her husband Louis’s room, her footsteps light. She was more pleased than she’d let on regarding Iris’s victory.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m home, darling…” Merellis entered his room but saw he was asleep in bed. She went quiet and walked over to him to sit by his bedside. His complexion looked much healthier than it had before, which naturally elicited a deep sigh of relief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Louis had always worked too hard. His was such a high-stress, high-demand job that those around him always worried. It was such a precarious thing, like watching someone walk a tightrope strung across a deep chasm. If the rope snapped, or if one little thing made him lose concentration, he would fall into the depths.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Merellis had often been beside herself watching him grow overworked amidst such circumstances. Similarly, several times, she’d been so worried about Iris that all she’d wanted to do was rush to her side and help. She had been unable to. She didn’t dare think about leaving her husband’s side when he was in such a delicate position, especially of late.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The battle for power within the castle had intensified. Louis worked tirelessly to ensure that the government still ran smoothly, despite all that. Merellis often wanted to tell him to just quit and take care of himself, but she suppressed the urge. It was all for the sake of the kingdom and its citizens. So many of them had suffered due to the floods and the counterfeit gold coins. If not for Louis and his men, as well as Count Sagitalia and Prince Alfred, the kingdom might not have endured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Many officials had taken the authority that Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea offered and abused their power; a good chunk of the governing positions within the kingdom were now occupied by the corrupt. Most didn’t even know the true purpose of their jobs. They did nothing but fill their own pockets and interfere with Louis’s work as much as they could. They had been instructed to do so by Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea themselves.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If they let the government stagnate like this, they would only be punishing the citizens. If worse came to worst, sooner or later the kingdom would either end up destroying itself, or it would succumb to an attack levied by another kingdom. It was neither a figure of speech nor an exaggeration to say that the kingdom wouldn’t last.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "These were the circumstances under which Merellis’s husband had been working. She smiled at him, a smile with a hint of sadness. “Iris must have inherited her sense of obligation from you, darling,” she murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, he opened his eyes slightly. “You’re home, Merry?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I’m sorry! Did I wake you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No… Where’s Iris?” He spoke with concern, his voice hoarse.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry, dear. Prince Alfred secured his victory. That puts House Armelia in a favorable position as well. So in other words, Iris won too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… I’m so relieved to hear that.” Louis let out a deep sigh, then closed his eyes once more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Merellis continued watching him for a while, her heart twisted with worry. When his breaths became deeper and more even and he fell back to sleep, she chuckled to herself and wondered if she worried too much. Ever since he’d been injured, every time he closed his eyes, she feared that he would never wake up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis bent down and kissed Louis on the forehead, then left the room out of a different doorway than the one from which she’d entered. At first glance, it didn’t look like a door at all. It was fashioned to look exactly like part of the wall. If one didn’t know it was there, it would go completely unnoticed. Hidden doors and passageways that led to secret rooms such as this were everywhere in noble mansions. In fact, there were several in this one, as well as in their main house back in Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The room Merellis was headed to now was so small it could hardly be called a closet. It contained neither ornate furniture nor decorations. A single round table stood in the center of the room, along with a chair. Merellis took a seat in the chair, which was the ordinary wooden sort that one would find anywhere, rather than the lavish, cushioned seats found elsewhere in the mansion. Once she sat down, she reached out and picked up the sword that lay on the table.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a plain sword, plain like the room and its sparse furnishings. She drew it from its scabbard. It was well used, but one glance told the observer that it was also well cared for, and that it would be a deadly blade in battle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Merellis took a deep breath. She leaned her forehead toward the blade and closed her eyes. She was questioning her own resolve, but it looked as if she were praying.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had this made especially for you. Will you become a warrior worthy of this sword?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Every time she came here before this blade, she thought of the words her father had said to her, and she questioned her commitment. Would she be able to keep the vow she had made back then?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis opened her eyes. With that, the oppressive feeling that had weighed on her was gone.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You told her that?”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "General Gazell shrank from his son’s sighs. “No, I didn’t. But you know Merry. She just knew.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I know you, Father. You just brought it up like it was nothing, didn’t you?” Pax was the current head of House Anderson and the son of General Gazell, who was shrinking back even more. “Well, I know she’s sensitive to the scent of approaching battle. She probably felt it in her bones anyway, so there was really no point in trying to hide it from her…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s exactly right! So why are you trying to blame me for it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a separate matter. Anyway, I’m not blaming you, Father. You’ve got the same wild instincts when it comes to battle as she does.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The general wondered what his son was doing if not trying to blame him. “It’s better she found out from me than hearing scraps of information from someone else. Who knows how she would’ve reacted! Ever since she was a young girl, she always rushed to action. Do you have any idea how many stomachaches that gave me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Her personality hasn’t changed much these days.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know. That’s why I thought it would be better if she heard the whole story from me, rather than inaccurate scraps from someone else. Information is a lie, after all. If it gets twisted and you get hold of bad intelligence, it could lead to war. The more accurate information you get, the more your chances of survival increase. Besides, it was for my own peace of mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand. I only fear that she’ll be dragged into the chaos, now that she knows, whether she likes it or not,” Pax said bitterly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The general inwardly agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Despite Pax’s gentle appearance, his personality was very much like the general’s. Beneath the calm exterior lay a ruthless cold—they would do anything to accomplish their goals. While the general looked every bit the beast his nickname suggested, Pax resembled his late mother. At first glance, you wouldn’t guess what lay beneath. In fact, since he looked so calm and gentle, the truth within became all the more terrifying once it rose to the surface. It did so now because he worried for Merellis; that was clear in his speech and tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pax had always doted on his sister, ever since they were young. A smile crossed the general’s face at the thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, Father, if we go to war with the enemy, will you go into battle?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t say at the moment. But…I think it’s very possible. I know the lay of the land, and pardon me for saying it, but I’m our best option for boosting morale. Most of all, taking the state of the kingdom into account… Well, you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Luckily, the prince has himself quite a following among the soldiers from his time as ‘Dean,’ so he knows the major players. I just hope the confusion is kept to a minimum.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True. Will you go to battle?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course not. You know I’m no good with a sword.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maybe not with a sword. But I’ve never seen a better tactician,” General Gazell said with a laugh. Pax didn’t respond; he just gave his father a tight smile. “Well, no matter. If I do end up having to go into the field, I’ll entrust you with everything back home.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Take care of Merellis too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I doubt she’ll need help from me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This time Gazell gave his son a tight smile. “Oh, don’t say that. There can never be enough help when times are rough. There’s no denying her strength, but that’s precisely why she needs soldiers who are loyal to only her. I’ve trained some of the duke’s men, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll truly follow her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have a point. Even so, you’re an awful soft touch with Merellis, Father.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re one to talk. And you’re the only one who would ever say that. Shrey and Kreuz compared my parenting to a wild dog pushing his young into a bottomless ravine!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pax couldn’t help but laugh. “I can’t blame them, after seeing how you train your students. Perhaps that’s how you show you care, now that she’s married into another family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course it is. No matter what family she married into, it can’t change the fact that she’s my own flesh and blood. Do you feel differently?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. She’s still my beloved little sister, just as she always was.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, at any rate, I’m counting on you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Father.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You came to train again, eh?” the general said to Merellis with a sardonic smile.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I did. I feel like I’ve recovered my skills, more or less, thanks to everyone here.” Several men lay on the ground behind Merellis. She had not a scratch on her—not even a speck of dirt on her clothing. The only sign that she had even fought those men was the sweat that beaded her forehead.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Miss Mer, may I please be nex—ah, General! Pardon me for the interruption.” Soldiers were lining up to spar with her, brimming with enthusiasm. At first her overwhelming strength had frightened them. Now there was no longer any hint of defeat in their eyes. Instead, they looked at her with admiration and respect. This was proof that she had won their trust without having to use her name to do it. Gazell heard that lately, soldiers who Merellis sparred with had been coming to her asking if she would train them. Not only that, but the number of men who wanted to spar with her had exploded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He chuckled quietly to himself. He expected nothing less from his daughter. “Well, that’s good. Just take it easy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, one of the elderly servants from the mansion rushed over to Gazell. “Master, a messenger of Lord Messi has arrived!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? I’ll be right there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis watched from nearby with a sharp gaze as the pair spoke.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The general noticed and looked over at her. “You come too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The three of them went into the parlor, where Baron Messi’s messenger was sitting on the sofa. He leapt to his feet when the three of them entered the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, please—make yourself at home. I’m sure you must be tired from your long journey.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, General!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Gazell sat across from the man, with Merellis standing behind him. The messenger glanced at her with hesitancy and a bit of confusion in his eyes. “Pardon me, sir, but who is this woman?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The general dismissed his question with a wave of his hand and said firmly, “Think nothing of her. Deliver Lord Messi’s message.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The kingdom of Tweil has made a move.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In a military sense?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Neither General Gazell nor Merellis seemed surprised at the news. In fact, they were strangely calm, as if they’d been expecting it. That surprised the servant, because putting the general aside, Merellis looked like a delicate woman. Shouldn’t she be on the verge of fainting due to shock? He had expected as much and therefore pressed the general about the appropriateness of her presence before he delivered the news.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yet she wasn’t shocked at all; instead she asked him calmly, “How did His Highness react to the news?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The baron thinks that perhaps he had already received the information via a different route. My master sent another messenger to deliver the report as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Do we know anything about Tweil’s plans and the speed at which they’re advancing?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s the same marching orders from the last war. We’ve heard they’re moving faster than anticipated. They should reach Tasmeria’s border within ten days.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mm. I’ll go to the castle and prepare for battle immediately. Ah, that’s right—bring Lord Messi a message for me. ‘Hold down the fort until I get there.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Those are very reassuring words. Thank you.” The tension left the messenger’s face as he bowed his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As I said, I’m headed to the castle, and after that, most likely straight to battle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis silently nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t need to prepare for a fight, but I don’t know what will happen. After all, that’s the nature of war.” Gazell’s serious gaze pierced through her, but she didn’t falter. In fact, she stared back at him just as fiercely. “Do you remember your vow?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis’s eyes widened slightly, and she smiled. Her vow. It was the vow she had made when the general had given her that sword, the one she kept carefully sharpened and hidden in the Armelia mansion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I vow on my name to take pride in the training given to me by my father and those who came before, and in the swordsmanship they have bestowed upon me. I vow to wield my sword with responsibility and to never besmirch that pride.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis had made that vow long ago, but she had never forgotten it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. But I keep that sword for a different reason than I did back then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Some things are more important to me than my own pride—the people I love. I would cast aside all honor in order to protect them; I’d even become a demon on the battlefield, if I had to.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…” The general’s serious expression cracked for a moment, but he regained his composure. “I’ll be leaving now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Godspeed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once the general left, Merellis again returned to the Armelia mansion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 8",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 23: The Duke’s Daughter Makes Preparations",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 23:The Duke’s Daughter Makes Preparations",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“TWEIL HAS SENT SOLDIERS across the border. The war has started once again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mother’s words made my mind go completely blank. I had to ensure I had heard correctly. “Mother…is that true?” I asked in muted horror.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mother gave me a wry smile. “I can’t blame you for wondering. Unfortunately, it is the truth. An emissary came to Grandfather, alerting him that Tweil has made their move. He’s at the castle right now to learn how we intend to respond. Well, not learning—preparing to go to war. The soldiers may well depart tomorrow at the earliest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That quickly?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to the messenger, Tweil is moving faster than expected. The more we delay dispatching our troops, the greater burden we put on Lord Messi. Moreover, if the baron’s troops fall, we will be unable to protect our domains to the west. Then Tweil’s army will be at the walls of the capital in no time. Time is",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "of the essence. Your grandfather is making that case at this very moment, and he will, even if he has to force their hand.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” The world was changing right under my nose. The ripples from those changes would reach this kingdom whether we liked it or not. I started planning my next move. “Will Father stay in the capital?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. He must do so as the prime minister, but more importantly, he couldn’t withstand a long journey in his condition.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right… Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Knowing him, he’ll keep himself confined to the castle for a while in order to carry out his duties, even if I try to stop him.” For a moment, my mother glanced down sadly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, this is hardly the time to throw myself a pity party. I sadness on her face vanished, replaced by a spirited smile. “Well? What will you do next, Iris?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll stick to my original plan and return to Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really?” My mother seemed taken aback, her eyes wide.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If everyone else is staying in the capital, don’t you think it’s better that I go back home? The only thing I can do here is gather information. I can accomplish that much by having Father or Berne send updates to me in Armelia. I had to leave a lot of unfinished business in order to come here, so it’s best I return before this situation causes a commotion there too. There’s more for me to do in the duchy anyway. Besides, if every single person with decision-making power is here in the capital, it’ll create uncertainty and anxiety elsewhere. And I’ll need to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mother listened to my explanation with a softened expression, but that changed once she spoke. “I see. Well, in that case, Iris…” I’d never seen the expression she made next, a face so serious it was almost frightening. She had been intimidating that time when in her anger she laid into Berne, but for some reason, she was even more terrifying now. “Armelia may be farther from Tweil than we are here, but you never know what will happen in times of war. If you sense any sparks from the fires of war have spread to you, you must let your mother know at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was baffled by this. Why would I call my mother if war broke out near Armelia? It was true that I had heard from my aunt that my mother was physically formidable, and I felt like Rudy had mentioned something before…but honestly I couldn’t imagine my mother anywhere near a battlefield. I didn’t dare press her further—the intensity of her aura was too much.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. I promise I’ll do so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My response seemed to finally dissolve my mother’s tension.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I promptly gave orders to Tanya to get ready to leave the capital and then returned to my room to calm myself for a bit. The time I had feared was finally approaching.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Prince Ed, Marquis Marea, and their faction had been arrested. I had a feeling Dean was already planning his new government. Not all of the people who belonged to his faction were of high social status, but they were extremely capable individuals. It was possible they had set everything up in advance behind the scenes before the arrests played out. However, there wasn’t enough time to ensure order was fully restored to the kingdom. Our only saving grace was the fierce loyalty the soldiers felt toward Grandfather, their general. It would be no laughing matter if the soldiers refused to fall in line in the face of an oncoming war. Who knew what would have happened if Ed were still the prince?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was a knock at the door, then Tanya entered to give me the news. “My lady, the preparations are complete.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness, that was awfully fast.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Most of the necessary affairs were already in order.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ah, that’s right. I had planned on leaving directly after the meeting. So much had happened that it completely slipped my mind. “We’ll depart for Armelia at once. But first, I want you to call the others here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya nodded and swiftly left the room to do so. I had a feeling that she sensed what was going on. A few minutes later, Lyle and Dida, who had accompanied us to the capital, entered the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t beat around the bush. War with Tweil is imminent.” My friends’ gazes sharpened. “I will return to Armelia and begin emergency preparations. The situation is progressing faster than I expected.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think it will affect Armelia as well?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I’m certain of it,” I answered without hesitation. The room instantly grew even tenser. That gave me great comfort. “Of course, I’ll be praying for my grandfather’s complete victory. But nothing will surprise me at this point. Even if we won’t be involved in the battle directly, we will certainly see the effects of it. After all, war breeds fear in people’s hearts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The trio nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s exactly why I need to be the one commanding the situation and giving orders back home. I have to be seen as a steady, reliable figure in the midst of chaos. We must get home as soon as possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So, we did just that, taking the fastest route on horseback, which I usually took by carriage. I remembered how difficult and painful the journey had been the last time I rode a horse on this route, when I journeyed to the capital for my excommunication inquiry. It had been far faster to be sure, but at the time, it had sapped my energy. Now I found the unsteady terrain that was jostling me back and forth to be comforting. It’s frightening how adaptable humans can be to change.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome home, my lady!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s good to be back, everyone. I’m headed to my study to attend to my duties.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I kept my remarks to the staff short and sweet, then buried myself in the documents at my desk. Time was limited. I couldn’t waste a single second. A mountain of papers lay before me. I was used to this sight now. Tanya had come to my study with me and didn’t bat an eyelash either. In fact, I’d imagined there would be so many papers in my office that they’d be piled on the floor, so this was a welcome surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This expectation derived from the fact that the situation in Armelia before I left for the capital had been, in a word: horrible. We were swamped with citizens from other domains wanting to immigrate. We’d additionally been put in the impossible situation of sending rations to the capital—or, to be more precise, the impossible situation of Ed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d faced one problem after another. Taking care of those matters was of course urgent, but at the same time, I couldn’t put my regular duties on the back burner either. My officials had been working so tirelessly that people had begun calling my home “the mansion that never sleeps.” Leaving the duchy under these circumstances had been an incredibly difficult decision.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Luckily, I was returning with a victory: I’d managed to unseat Ed and his cronies, which had been the root of the evils we suffered. It was the best possible outcome I could have imagined. As for my plans going forward, I’d put together a basic outline before I left for the capital, but at this point they were nothing but plans. No matter how much you think through something while you plan, problems always arise during execution—that’s just the nature of work. Regardless of how much you try to anticipate everything that could possibly go awry, something unexpected always happens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As such, I had assumed I’d be welcomed home with a mountain of documents, one that might set a personal record in volume, but that wasn’t the case. There really was much less than I’d imagined. So much less, in fact, that I was shocked. Of course that was a good thing, but still. I was filled with pride thinking of how well Sebastian and our officials had done their jobs—and also at how much they’d grown.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is no time to get carried away with emotions,” I murmured to no one in particular.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At any rate, I started to organize the documents before me in order of importance. I had the people who were hoping to become Armelian citizens living in temporary housing. The problem each domain had been experiencing with our rations had been more or less solved thanks to Dean buying supplies from the other kingdom, in addition to having recovered the rations from the nobles who were hoarding them. After hearing this news, about twenty percent of the immigrants chose to return to their home domain. The remaining eighty percent still wished to become Armelian citizens. It was my job to get things here in order so that they could live here.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was important to prepare for the war, but the thing I feared most was violence among the citizens. If the influx of immigrants worsened civil order, I would have no time to prepare for aggression from abroad. Thus I needed to arrange for proper living circumstances for the immigrants, and also show the citizens I was steady and dependable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In order to do that, I needed to draw up family registers for the new citizens, as well as secure them employment and housing. The housing could wait a bit, but ultimately the places they were living now were nothing more than temporary. The structures had been constructed in a hurry and so were improvised and not made to last more than two years. As for their employment, luckily the economy in Armelia was still booming. Many industries were in need of more workers, so I was confident I would be able to arrange jobs for the new citizens in no time.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I read through the documents. The appropriate officials were taking surveys of the immigrants as to their family structure, their employment background, and their reasons for wanting to live in Armelia. Their reasons for the last were largely the same. The most interesting thing I found was actually regarding their careers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For example, one was skilled at weaving a particular kind of textile. Another specialized in making handicrafts fashioned out of gold. Many of these immigrants were skilled in their home domains’ special trades or crafts. Others worked in the medical field or owned large businesses. They were talented people. There was no greater reward for my hard work than being able to welcome such gifted individuals as citizens of Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It felt like a long time ago now, but it made me think about giving that speech at the merchant guild when I wanted to build the academy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want to open it as soon as possible. The people of this duchy are a vital, precious resource to my family. It would be such a waste to not polish them until they shine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d believed this when I said it to the leaders of the guild, and my thoughts on the matter hadn’t changed. Talented people are valuable assets. They contain a multitude of possibilities for the future. Once you gather enough of those talented people, they form organized groups, and eventually they grow to establish domains that become kingdoms… In other words, as my citizens grew, so too did the duchy grow in power and wealth. That wealth returned profits in droves. Those were my thoughts on the matter, anyway.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Consequently, I viewed my job as the acting governor to be someone who protected and nurtured such people. Now I had a line of such folk who wanted to become citizens of my domain. I could take the ones skilled at textiles and have them work in the clothing business; they could use their expertise in weaving traditions to develop other special skills and processes that would originate here in Armelia. I was certain all this would lead to highly interesting products.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, if I could combine the talented people who were already living and working in Armelia with these new transplants, I had a feeling it would incite an explosion of new ideas and products. Just thinking about it made me tremble with excitement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But I digress. The issue wasn’t how interesting or lovely I found the idea of new citizens coming to Armelia but instead how horrible the conditions of their home domains must have been for these incredibly skilled people to want to move somewhere else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne had recently been to another domain and said to Mother and Father: “I saw hell on earth.” I could only imagine how things must have been. The food shortages were coming to an end thanks to the guidance and initiative of Dean and Berne. Yet the rift that had been torn between the ordinary citizens and the aristocratic class was deep indeed. This incident had exposed the nobility as selfish individuals who acted inconsiderately; I was sure the average citizens had grown angry, disillusioned, and given up on their support. Proof of that lay in these talented workers, who were irreplaceable and should have been well taken care of so that they would stay local. Instead, they wanted to move here in droves. That went to show just how terribly this kingdom’s nobility had forgotten their purpose and responsibilities and become driven by their own greed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Having pride in being born to a great lineage doesn’t make one a noble. True nobles are defined by their actions.” My grandfather had told me that over and over again since I was young. Of course at the time, it went in one ear and out the other, but now the truth of his sentiment was almost painful.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nobles were given power to act as leaders among citizens, to listen to and collect their opinions, and if necessary, act as a shield to protect them. As someone who had such a responsibility to protect my citizens, I found this situation incredibly unfortunate. I understood why Dean was breaking down the existing system in order to create a unified kingdom. Over the course of Tasmeria’s long history, it seemed that the Darryl Church wasn’t the only thing that had led us to lose sight of our raison d’être. At some point, the nobles began to leverage their power and influence for their own benefits and forgot the reason they had been given that power in the first place. This incident had definitely brought all of that to light. Fortunately, a great deal of those nobles had been arrested.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady. I have news for you.” An official from Abitante knocked and entered the room, interrupting my reverie. I quickly changed gears to focus on him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so sorry to have interrupted your work by asking you to come here. I know you’re busy. I’d like to hear how things are going at the immigration point. First, tell me how the census is progressing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s about eighty percent complete.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. How about the job counseling?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We assessed the participants’ preferences and matched them with suitable jobs in their fields and interests as best we could. We’re conducting the matching at the same time as the census, so it’s also eighty percent complete. They’re all eager to start their new lives, so they’re filled with ambition.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m glad to hear that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We weren’t giving them charity; instead we were setting them up with resources to become self-sufficient so that they could feel at home in Armelia. Hearing that they felt hungry for success was the best news I could receive.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There aren’t any problems, then? I want you to continue your work and ensure that you give each individual adequate attention.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. The situation has vastly improved and we’re no longer short-staffed, so we were planning to tackle the housing issue. What do you think? We have the temporary housing, so we hadn’t done much about it while we were prioritizing securing jobs. Only those who had money on hand were able to buy where they wanted.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, we definitely need to secure their employment before worrying about housing…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Climate and terrain differed in the various regions of Armelia. At the port to the east, the economy centered on the fishing industry, but lately it was shifting to foreign trade. Conversely, to the west, our more mountainous region contained the forestry industry, though lately we’d been putting effort to make it more of a tourist destination with hot spring resorts. Therefore, the ideal location for each individual to call their home depended greatly on their trade. Thus, the best strategy was to secure employment for them first; housing would come later.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How many wanted to buy homes with their own funds?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More than ten percent, perhaps? Certainly less than twenty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, that’s more than I expected!” To put it bluntly, the people who could afford to buy housing on their own had to be wealthy if they had the means to front that much in liquid assets during a natural disaster. If they had those means, they also had to be quite dissatisfied with the state of affairs in their prior domains to want to move somewhere else. Of course, they would still say their motive was to escape the tumult of the natural disaster.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you’ve been holding meetings introducing our new citizens to the duchy?” The meetings I referred to were basically an orientation to life in Armelia. It was a time to explain our policies and systems, as well as the characteristics of each domain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, especially as our duchy differs from other domains in quite a number of ways, even though it’s second nature to us now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was right. For example: our paper currency, banking system, education system, and tax systems were entirely different from our neighbors’. Many of our policies also vastly differed from those in other domains, so I was sure the new citizens would be both surprised and confused. These changes had been introduced to our citizens gradually, so they’d had time to get used to each one. If they had been implemented all at once, certainly my people would have been just as bewildered as their new neighbors. Of course, that never would have happened, as at the time I hadn’t had the staff necessary to simultaneously deploy all those reforms.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, if you’re explaining it all, then they should understand the major differences between our regions. In that case, all that’s left to do is meet with them individually, and they can use their own funds to buy housing. After that, there’s not much we can do on our end. Ah, that reminds me—what are we doing about aid when it comes to food?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve already distributed food, and from now on, further supplies will be coordinated by Agricolture.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Agricolture was a new branch of government I’d established right before I went to the capital. I’d taken officials from Borsa, Abitante, and Architetto, along with people who had achieved highest marks in the agriculture program at the academy of higher education. As its name suggested, this branch focused on overseeing our food resources. More specifically, not only did they manage our stockpiled rations, they also predicted the output of each different crop—and if they predicted any shortages, they allocated aid to the specific domain as needed. I’d devised this system after Ed’s harassment campaign, when he forced me to send our rations to the capital. Now I understood more than ever how essential this branch would be.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… I’ll go ahead and follow up with Agricolture about this later. There’s something else I need them to take care of…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought you’d say that, Lady Iris, so I took it upon myself to send word to them. They should be here soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was inwardly impressed. The officials truly had grown so much, including this fellow. He had anticipated my reaction and acted accordingly. I was most pleased with this growth, and at the same time grateful that we had come this far together. I’d put them through many struggles since becoming the acting governor. In order to revolutionize our government, what I’d sought from them wasn’t the mechanical performance of their duties but actual ingenuity. I needed them to think outside the box and act on new ideas to produce the most favorable results. That was incredibly difficult. It was blazing a path through an unexplored wilderness. I had prayed that although they were searching through the darkness, they would keep going no matter what. They had. Now, just when I thought we had made progress, I would have to bring them another catastrophe.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course it wasn’t like I wanted to be at the center of a catastrophe at all times. The ripples of disaster affected Armelia regardless of what I did and thus I had to deal with them, usually with only a handful of people striving to produce favorable outcomes. If I were my employee, I would’ve thrown in the towel long ago. But these people had stuck with me, and now they were seasoned veterans. I could proudly say that not one bureaucrat in the capital was more talented. I really didn’t deserve them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“…My lady?” The official looked at me with concern.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I shook my head with a smile. “Lastly, I want you to pay close attention to any possible strife between the citizens and the immigrants. I’ve read the reports from the garrison, of course, but it’s always best to have more eyes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With all the confusion inherent to the current situation, it wouldn’t surprise if quarrels broke out here and there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I haven’t noticed anything of that nature,” he said. “On the contrary, it seems our citizens are actively welcoming the new transplants.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness!” Honestly, that surprised me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d resigned myself to the likelihood of discord between the two groups. After all, humans can be shockingly cruel. When people are suffering, others may hesitate to lend a helping hand because they fear the sparks of trouble will land on them and ignite their own lives. If some greater trouble inexorably approaches through a surplus of victims, it can even lead people seeking help to be treated as objects of fear and revulsion. I nursed real anxiety over this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The official said, “Pardon my candor, my lady, but had our citizens been suffering the strains of poverty or other duress, as the people have in other domains, I’m not sure what would have happened. Instead, our citizens know that when they wake up, they can count on three meals a day and a stable government. Most of all, they trust you with the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, I’ll have to work hard to live up to their expectations,” I said with a wry smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, Moneda knocked at the door and entered. His complexion was pale, even for him. I was sure I looked the same way. To be honest, I hadn’t wanted to see Moneda, because I didn’t want to face the discussions we needed to have. I might compare it to dreading going to school on the day of a big test. But there was no time to put off a discussion simply because I didn’t want to. Rather, it was time for both of us to gain another wrinkle on our faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would you like me to leave, my lady?” the Abitante official asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head. I wanted him present for this discussion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a long time since we last met, my lady,” said Moneda.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it has.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We exchanged a tired laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard that the first prince secured victory in the capital,” he said. “I’m pleased to know this means the harassment Armelia has endured will finally come to an end.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite. The information you provided assisted greatly in that matter, Moneda. Forgive me for being so late in expressing my gratitude. Thank you so much.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no need to thank me. Regarding that matter, back when I was in the merchant guild…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Moneda,” I said. He jolted slightly. “You were in the merchant guild, remember? So, it’s not like you to dwell on things. Money over time, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment I said that, the look in his eyes changed to one of resolve. Resolve to keep moving forward despite the burden on his shoulders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d like to discuss things moving forward,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure you do. This is the perfect time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While we spoke, various officials from other branches whom the Abitante official had invited assembled in the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, now that everyone’s here, let’s start the meeting in the room next door.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We went to the other room and took our seats. Once we did, the official from Agricolture handed out documents that everyone looked over.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is the predicted output for our stockpiles and harvests across the duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d recovered a great deal of our stockpiles, compared to when we’d been down to the reserves I had hidden off the books. That was fairly impressive, considering we were providing food aid to the new citizens. Taking the hit to our budget in order to import more supplies from other kingdoms had certainly been worth it. As long as nothing else happened, we would completely recover our stores. The key phrase there being “as long as nothing else happened.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ahh, my head is killing me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems we’re predicting big numbers for the next harvest,” I noted. The documents suggested this year’s harvest would be nearly double that of the previous year.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our research at the academy has borne fruit. Not only did we begin cultivating new varieties of our crops, but we’ve discovered ways to more efficiently use our farmland and optimize cultivation to maximize yield. Those numbers are solid, barring some manner of large-scale disaster that impacts the farmlands before harvest time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris, I have a report from Architetto. The construction for the flood prevention measures is nearly finished. All the most important structures are completed, and only smaller projects remain. Therefore, we’re at the point where the structures can be considered functional. As long as we don’t experience another catastrophic hundred-year storm, our construction should prevent large-scale casualties in future floods.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I let out a noise of satisfaction. “That finished ahead of schedule, no? Especially since we were experimenting with all those innovations on my grandfather’s original plans.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re not wrong. But this time we had direct cooperation from the citizens. That’s the main element driving our rapid progress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed we were headed in such a good direction because the citizens had laid the groundwork for us. Informing them of why the measures were necessary and what we were doing to make it possible—as well as the reasoning behind the project—was a vital step in convincing them to accept the disturbance to their daily lives.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about the aqueduct and reservoir projects we initiated concurrently?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Those are about halfway completed. The reservoir is already operational, but the aqueducts are not. Once the flood prevention projects are completed, we can transition those workers to the aqueducts. That will speed up progress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Given this report from Architetto, it sounds like we’ve greatly reduced the risk of damage from flooding. I don’t think it will be a problem to continue distributing food aid. What do you think, Lady Iris?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I thought through it before I gave an answer. I considered the situation as it stood, as well as what we would have to do moving forward. “Let me confirm your reports one more time. You’ve recommended jobs for eighty percent of the hopeful citizens and have distributed rations to them, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The officials from Abitante and Agricolture both nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, I want you to discontinue food assistance to them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My statement seemed to shock everyone in the room; their eyes widened in unison. It was certainly possible to continue providing the new citizens with food, considering the current state of our stockpiles. But again, that was under the assumption that nothing else would happen. I watched as one after another, the officials realized the rationale behind my statement, and they continued to listen with solemn expressions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There has not yet been an official announcement, but: we will soon be at war.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Everyone in the room gasped, except for Moneda. Before I left the capital, I’d sent urgent word to him, informing him of the situation, so he was aware. He still looked quite pale hearing it said aloud, however. I completely understood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“With Tweil?” one of the officials found the determination to ask. I could tell that they already knew the answer, but they had to hear it for confirmation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded. All of them looked like they wanted to say something, but none spoke. I was sure curse words were streaming through their heads. Their expressions were about ninety percent anger and ten percent relief.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They were no doubt angry as citizens that once again our kingdom would have to resort to using military force. Moreover, I’m sure that as government officials, they were furious that just as they were finally nearing an end to their previous troubles, yet another catastrophe had popped up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The only saving grace in this situation was the great distance between Tweil and Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, with that in mind, we need to discuss our actions going forward,” I said deliberately, at which everyone sat up a bit straighter. The room went completely silent for a moment. “Moneda, how are things at the merchant guild?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It doesn’t seem like they have this information yet, so the markets are stable.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good. I want you to keep a close eye on them to make sure that no one’s buying up too much food and medicine in the name of hoarding.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And we’ll continue the anti-profiteering ordinance?” a Codice official asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The anti-profiteering ordinance in question had been devised to punish individuals who bought up goods or held off on selling them in order to drive up prices with the goal of excessive profits. There was a similar law in Japan, from what I could recall. I’d studied it a bit in history class, though I didn’t know the finer details. At any rate, we shared the same goals in Armelia. During natural disasters, demand exceeds supply. Unfortunately, some people will always want to take advantage of that by buying up already scarce goods and restricting their sales or driving up prices in order to better profit.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now we faced war. The kingdom had to secure rations to feed the soldiers heading to battle, and if the war spread to the point that it affected farmland, it would also negatively impact the harvest. Even if we were able to balance supply and demand within our domain, if the kingdom as a whole couldn’t keep up with need, then it would be only natural for people to consider buying supplies from domains with cheaper prices, then selling them at a markup in domains where those supplies were scarce. My goal was to have an open market, so the need to address these inevitable behaviors troubled me, but I was responsible for the duchy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "More than anything, I wanted to avoid a situation wherein food was diverted outside of Armelia. After all, once word got out about the war, it was impossible to know how many of our citizens would rush to the markets to buy supplies in a blind panic.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course,” I said. “We will also preserve the status quo with tariffs.” Since we’d feared seeing food and supplies being exported out from Armelia, we currently had extra high tariffs on exports of several types of related items, though import taxes remained unchanged.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you want to tax the same categories as before?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, food and medicine. Check with Borsa and Agricolture later and draw up a list. After that, get the necessary paperwork in order. Moneda, what are the value trends in those markets?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The prices have begun to rise slightly, but consumption remains the same. Therefore, I believe it’s increasing regardless of actual supply.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s ensure we’re regulating the flow of goods within those markets, though I suspect the inflation is driven by people’s subconscious anxieties.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In order to lower the price again, we’ll need an ample supply. Or should we reduce the amount of money in circulation?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I may speak from Borsa’s perspective, I’d like to hold off procuring food from other kingdoms. If we keep spending large sums of money on that objective, we won’t have enough liquid assets to put toward other necessary expenses.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Moneda and I paled at the Borsa official’s highly insightful point.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I realize this is out of my field, but if I may say something…” an official from Agricolture spoke up. “Long ago, the kingdom borrowed money from citizens. What if we tried that again? We could use those funds to buy supplies and rebuild our stockpiles. By gathering currency from the citizens, we would also cut down on the amount of money in circulation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, you mean bonds,” I said. I appreciated his alternative plan, though I couldn’t get on board. “That’s difficult for me to agree with. First of all, we’re limited in the amount of currency we can produce given our gold standard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our paper currency system was composed of gold-convertible banknotes—that is, the value of a given piece of paper relied on there being an equivalent amount of gold you could exchange it for. That meant the amount of paper currency we could issue was limited by the number of gold coins in our vaults. Lacking capital didn’t mean we could simply issue paper currency to make up the difference. Whether you have a gold standard or a fiat system, issuing bonds dims a government’s financial outlook, because it only increases debt in the long run.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Secondly, we can’t guarantee that people will buy our bonds. The cost of living is rising, and interest rates are climbing in order to curb them. Thirdly, in order to maintain a healthy financial ecosystem, we need a healthy foundation for our future finances. In the end, bonds are nothing more than promissory notes. Thus, we would have an obligation to repay them in the future. In other words, it’s a guarantee that we’ll have those funds in the future—but if we don’t have our affairs in order, our debt will only snowball. For those reasons, I cannot agree to issuing bonds.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s like an extraordinarily potent medicine—you should only take it if it’s absolutely necessary. Is that accurate?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s a non-zero chance that the sparks of war will spread even to our duchy. For that reason, we need to secure all the funds we possibly can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t that Borsa’s responsibility? Instead of putting our hopes in new sources of capital, shouldn’t we cut expenditures from other areas in order to prepare for the war?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m worried about the citizens’ reactions. Anxiety is contagious, and it can incite unexpected behavior. This all increases the likelihood that they’ll hoard food.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shouldn’t we just expect Codice to deal with that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was pleased to hear such a passionate discussion. Once everyone stated their opinions, we were able to debate. I couldn’t possibly have done it all alone. We met for several days and nights to continue the discussion, and after all our impassioned debate led us to the point of total exhaustion, we finally settled on a plan.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A week later, the kingdom publicly announced that we were at war. At first, there was a bit of panic in Armelia, but gradually things calmed down. Either the meetings during which we’d worried ourselves sick—to the point that I was sure we all had permanent wrinkles between our brows—had been successful, or the people had a less acute sense of danger in the face of impending crisis than I’d thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Nevertheless, I was pleased that things in the city seemed to be business as usual, even if they only appeared to be on the surface.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I reached for my coffee cup. At present, I enjoyed coffee as a simple indulgence, but I’d soon be relying on the caffeine to keep me awake. I tried to avoid that as much as possible, since it wasn’t healthy, and the more I drank, the less effective it became. I smiled tiredly at the thought, then opened the letter from my mother that had just arrived. It contained everything she knew about the current situation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "First, she told me of the military’s affairs. Grandfather had been officially named supreme commander in the war against Tweil and was headed to the front line. She reported the scale of the advancing troops and detailed information regarding their plans. I was thoroughly in awe of my mother for being able to gather so much information as the wife of a noble, even taking into consideration that she was from House Anderson. I gratefully read the entirety. Who knew when it would come in handy?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, she described the goings-on in our family, as well as those at the castle. As I had seen at the last meeting there, Berne was still working himself to the bone as Dean’s close aide. Even though he was my own brother, I had to admit that when I saw the look in his eyes and the way he carried himself when he stepped up to the dais, a chill had run through me. I had felt such resolve coming from him. If he kept up that energy, I knew he would overcome any challenge.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mother also wrote of the nobility’s activities. Some had decided to stay in the capital, but the ones who were governors of their own domains had returned to their estates to prepare for war. Ed was no longer around to indulge those who used their power as they pleased, so if anyone were to neglect their domains now, they would no doubt be immediately removed from their posts. Dean was extremely strict when it came to people doing their jobs, but Berne especially wouldn’t tolerate shirked duties under any circumstance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, she told me of events in the capital. There had been no outbreaks of violence, but the citizens seemed troubled by the sudden arrival of yet more turbulence. As one of my officials had said in that meeting the other day, anxiety was contagious. Mob mentality meant that once a spark lit, it wouldn’t be long until the fire spread. We were walking on thin ice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wanted her to write more about the war itself, but I suppose that would be difficult.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you wish, I can gather whatever information you need right away, my lady,” said Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t hide my surprise. At first, I thought, “Surely, not even Tanya could get that information…” Then it dawned on me that perhaps she very well could. What I wanted was military intelligence. I wasn’t sure how difficult it would be to obtain classified information, but I could certainly guess.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could you do that?” I asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you wish. We have several people positioned inside the castle. Certainly not even they are privy to the detailed actions of the military, but if you desire, I can have one of them sent to either Lord Messi’s or the former Lord Monroe’s domains. We have the connections, so with enough time I’m confident we can obtain that information.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya said this so casually that I was quietly astonished. Her talent never ceased to amaze me. I had wondered several times what her limits truly were. But I had to admit I had never been so shocked by her skills as I was that day.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, I’d like to ask you to do just that,” I said. “Please gather that intel as soon as you possibly can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, my lady. I’ll send the orders right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Tanya left the room, I burned the letter and once again immersed myself in work.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gramps, I’ve got good news for you: the war has begun,” Khadir, the prince of Acacia, informed Hafiz with a smile.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aha, so Tweil has finally made its move? I was wondering when it would happen. They certainly took their time, didn’t they?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tweil isn’t as unified as one might think. Some people there are firmly convinced they can avenge their prior defeat and seize the resources they desire by invading Tasmeria. At the same time, some want to prioritize enriching the kingdom from within instead of racking up war expenditures. They have the same goals and know they have to make sacrifices, but they differ in what they think they ought to sacrifice.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha… They seem awfully confident for a kingdom whose people aren’t on the same page about going to war!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Precisely. The most important thing is that Tweil made a move, period. I’m sure Father will be notified in the next few days. Then I’m certain he will dispatch my diligent older brother and the general’s faction.” Khadir took the cup Hafiz offered him and sipped from it. “Just thinking about how we’ll soon be rid of those no-good nuisances fills me with relief.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your Highness, forgive your old grandpa for saying this, but will they really do that well? Honestly, I can’t even picture them on the front line.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s where they want to be. The draw is the duchy of Armelia. I’ve been spreading rumors for quite some time now that Father’s absolutely obsessed with Armelia, and whoever gets them to surrender will receive a handsome reward. Father’s wanted more land under his control for some time now, and he’s incredibly impressed with Armelia’s production. So I based my rumors on facts, you see?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Besides, information about Armelia travels fast around here. It seems one thing greedy people have in common is the desire to conquer fertile land.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. You imagine they’re thinking ‘if we conquer that bountiful domain, we might be granted the right to govern it!’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Exactly. Although I doubt they’ll be able to do so in the first place. It doesn’t matter, though. Their absence will give me the perfect opportunity to remove Father from the throne and take it for myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your Highness, please be careful. I checked beforehand to make sure we were alone, but you know the walls have ears inside the royal palace. You can never be too careful!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right. But if you checked, then we’re safe.” A soft smile spread across Hafiz’s face. “My father is so terribly greedy, and all my brother can think of is following in his footsteps. The general has shown his greed as well by engaging in this ostentatious show of power and flaunting his authority to Acacia’s upper class. Everywhere you look, it’s greed, greed, greed! No wonder we’re seeing signs of rising smoke all across the kingdom. It won’t be long until we’re in the same situation as Tweil and Tasmeria, and no one will be laughing then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The kingdom of Acacia prided itself in its vast territory, which was lush and fertile, rich with resources. Unlike Tasmeria, there were no separate domains ruled by their own governors; the royal family directly controlled the whole kingdom. In other words, their king possessed overwhelmingly more power than Tasmeria’s. Acacia was incredibly blessed when their king was wise, but when a foolish king inherited the throne, they swerved onto the road toward disaster.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Long ago, Father was the kind of king our people desired. That much is clear when you look at his policies in our records. However, over time, perhaps because he folded to the pressure, he surrounded himself with yes-men and only listened to those who agreed with him. I’m certain this is the reason we’re seeing these signs of conflagration rise.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps it’s the same for all kingdoms that grow too large and are blessed with too many fruits—they rot from the inside out.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s what makes you the symbol of our hope, Your Highness. Please take care of yourself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re back on that again?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. How absolutely devastating would it be if you suffered some sort of downfall during this crucial time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m no match for you, Gramps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hafiz bowed his head at the compliment. “By the way, I heard that the elusive first prince Alfred finally made his appearance.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. I thought the second prince would continue mucking things up for a bit longer, but I suppose it was a predictable outcome. And after hiring private guards and spies to make sure the second prince and his cronies didn’t die too soon…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That just goes to show how formidable the first prince is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“After this is over, I’d like to meet him.” Khadir put his cup on the side table and Hafiz poured some coffee into it, the fragrant aroma filling the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Still, I don’t understand,” said Hafiz. “Just the other day, when we left Armelia, you said you weren’t sure where things would land with them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If Tweil defeats Tasmeria, I’m not sure Armelia could withstand taking on two kingdoms at once. But it doesn’t matter. Honestly, I don’t care who wins this war. I only care about the people who stand in the way of my dreams. I’ll do to them what I do to everyone who dares to imperil Acacia’s future.” Khadir wore a pleasant, easy smile. “The longer they’re away, the smoother things will go in my pursuit of the throne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But if you lose, won’t this come to quite the financial loss?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not at all. We’ll ensure the ‘invaders’ take responsibility for any losses. They’re so greedy, I’m sure they have a great deal of money saved up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that so?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The only real question is how quickly they’ll be defeated. It would be quite troublesome if things were settled too swiftly and the survivors came home too soon. So I devised a little plot for them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ohh, is that right? My goodness, Your Highness…” Hafiz chuckled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it, Gramps?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, nothing, nothing. I was just imagining Lady Iris’s future hardships.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you talking about? My precious future wife isn’t so delicate that she’d let something like that destroy her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment, Hafiz looked astonished. “You consider her precious?” It was only natural for him to question this. After all, who would purposefully place someone they thought precious in a predicament such as this?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why else would I ask her to marry me? Don’t tell me you think that was a joke?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, no. But I assumed you made the proposal for political reasons.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think it was political, eh? Hmm, well, I admit that was part of it. But if my aim were solely political, I have plenty of other prospects. I wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble of crossing the sea to ask the daughter of a foreign duke to marry me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose I see your point. Pardon me for being forward, Your Highness, but what is it about Lady Iris that you find so attractive?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After all, Khadir had only met the girl once, when he had traveled to Armelia in disguise, taking his grandfather’s name to hide his identity. After that, he had seen her from afar several times when he’d traveled to Tasmeria while concealing himself with merchants conducting surveillance. “After we began to increase our trade with Armelia, I did some research on the place. I learned of her at that time. At first, I thought the tales of her accomplishments were some kind of long joke or that they were blown out of proportion. But when I went to the duchy and saw her for myself, well… She’s a rare one indeed. She’s intelligent, compassionate… Precisely the kind of woman worthy to stand by a king’s side. Not only that, she’s beautiful. It’s only natural that I’d want her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, Gramps, Armelia is independently manufacturing silk.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What did you say?!” Hafiz’s mouth hung open, which he rarely allowed in front of the prince. He was wholly shocked. “The production method is top secret! How in the world did she learn it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not sure. I don’t know if she discovered it herself, if she got the information from someone, or if one of her talented agents discovered our secret. But regardless of how she obtained the information, it’s proof of how talented her people are. In other words, she’s so impressive that people of such skill are eager to work for her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see, I see. I suppose I should revisit my opinion of her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Prince Khadir seemed pleased by that and took another drink. “I was only with her for a short time, but that was enough to confirm that the stories about her are true. They are not the least bit exaggerated.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Shouldn’t that make you think even more carefully?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have you forgotten that things are already in motion? Even if I had opposed the proposition Tweil brought to us, Father wouldn’t have stopped them. There’s nothing I can do about their actions, and even if there was, there’s no time. As I said, she’s not the type of woman who will be defeated by a bumpy road. The only thing I regret is that I can’t watch those strong, willful eyes cloud over firsthand.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hafiz’s face tightened for a moment, but then his soft smile returned as if nothing had happened. “Well, in that case, I wish Tasmeria nothing but the best. Just as you said—no matter how valiantly Lady Iris fights alone, if the kingdom of Tasmeria loses, it will be extremely difficult to make her your queen as the noble of a defeated kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, Your Highness…you mentioned you devised a little plot? What exactly is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? Oh, just something I recycled.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you remember a long time ago when that vixen from Tweil tried to get her paws on Armelia?” Khadir asked with a pleasant smile. “Well, I thought it would be a shame not to recycle the scraps left behind by that plan. All I had to do was knock her head about to confuse her a bit, and now even those blockheads will fight her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 9",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 24: The Duke’s Daughter’s Responsibility",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 24:The Duke’s Daughter’s Responsibility",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I SAT BY THE WINDOW under the moonlight. The view from that spot looked so different in the pale light versus in the bright sunshine. It took on a new beauty. Everything was quiet, so quiet it was hard to believe that somewhere in this same kingdom, a war was raging, even though it was far away.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, I turned my gaze to the flowerpot next to me. The bugles I’d planted were blossoming wonderfully.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, how darling! Ma’am! What kind of flower is this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled as I wondered how many months had passed since I asked the lady at the market that question and bought those seeds. So much had happened since then. Many seasons had passed, and the bag of seeds I’d bought that day had grown into these beautiful flowers, which had then dropped seeds and grown into flowers themselves. How many generations past those original seeds were the flowers I now looked at? I reached out to gently caress the soft, delicate petals. Despite the darkness (or perhaps because of it?) they looked even more beautiful than usual in the moonlight.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just wish…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I suddenly recalled his voice. What had the look on his face been behind the gale of flower petals that day? What had he wanted to say, but didn’t? I looked at the open book in my lap, thinking there was no use in wondering now. Just then, there was a knock at the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady… My lady?” Tanya entered and gave me a suspicious look. “Why are you sitting over there?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was taking a break and wanted to look out at the view for a bit.” I knew her worried expression probably wouldn’t improve if I kept sitting there, so I got up and sat at my desk. She looked at the book I was holding, and her expression clouded slightly. “I thought I’d fit in as much as I could,” I told her with a light smile. I was reading a book about the kingdom of Acacia. Whenever I found the time, I took the chance to read the books on foreign kingdoms that we kept in the mansion’s library. Of course I had no intention of going to Acacia until the war was over, but when would that be? In any case, I had deferred my response to the prince’s proposal because of the turbulence in Tasmeria.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that right…? At any rate, I’m here because there’s something I think you should know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Well, let’s hear it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Detailed news about the war hasn’t yet reached the capital, but I’ve received word that hostilities have indeed broken out.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So, it’s finally begun, I thought as I let out a deep sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Messi and General Gazell are leading a brave front to defend the kingdom, but it seems that the enemy’s numbers are great…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“From what I remember, Grandfather took a smaller number of troops than usual so he could get there quicker, and the second regiment will meet up with them later.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. Did you hear that from your lady mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Well, the second regiment has already departed. They should reach the battlefield within one or two days.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a relief. Grandfather may be strong, but we can’t ignore the fact that we’re currently outnumbered.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is just between you and me,” Tanya said, “but apparently Tweil hasn’t just dispatched soldiers. Ordinary citizens are fighting as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ordinary citizens? If they’re not properly trained, how in the world could they do anything?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re precisely right, my lady. What I mean is that even though we’re at a disadvantage with regard to numbers, the tide of battle moves in both directions. However, reportedly the citizens’ thirst for battle is extremely high, so it remains to be seen how long we can maintain the balance…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The average citizens are that eager?” I’d assumed they’d been conscripted. Learning that they actually desired to fight was extremely strange.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Apparently there was a famine last year in Tweil.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do remember hearing that, now that you mention it. I see, I see… So it’s their last stand, as it were.” The people of Tweil had no food, and with the future looking bleak, they had two choices: grow weak and lie down to die alongside their kingdom or fight and die in a war in hopes of winning rich, fertile lands for their family, something to leave a speck of hope. If they withdrew, all that awaited them was hell. If they advanced, hell still waited. They had been forced to choose between foul fates.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I might be overthinking this, but what if Divan is specifically leveraging the famine to his advantage?” I just couldn’t shake that feeling. If the only choice the survivors had was death, it was human nature to cling to even the slightest glimmer of hope. Or they would try to find the reason for it all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Surely he wouldn’t…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s just a theory.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But my lady, why would someone refuse defeat only to trap themselves in an even more difficult situation?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that what it is? When people are under extreme pressure, how long do they retain their ability to reason?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah…” Tanya was speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Their land is barren. Moreover, they’re still suffering under the financial burden of losing the last war. How long will it take to cultivate new land and see the fruits of that labor? Public order is worsening due to the poverty and famine. Tweil has grown over with discontent and insecurity. How long can people put up with living under those circumstances?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Especially when right next door lay Tasmeria, the land of sweet fruit and endlessly fertile lands. Wasn’t it only natural for Tweil’s downtrodden to grow jealous and think, “Why did this have to happen to our kingdom?” or “Why is life so unfair?” That would only stoke the feelings of discontent and insecurity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s entirely possible that the kingdom’s rulers used the unrest to their advantage, thereby diverting the ire away from themselves and toward us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s why the citizens want to go to war?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The world flows just like a great river. If two drops of water decide to go in a different direction, they can’t fight the larger current. That’s the way of it. Even if some speak against the war, they can’t fight the greater current of the popular sentiment. At some point, they’ll turn in the same direction and change their opinions, telling themselves ‘This is the only way’ or ‘I have no other choice.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d seen this many times in my past life. So many times, and in so many places, people had frantically tried to change the opinion of the majority during times of turmoil.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If other people try to take advantage of such sentiments, they’ll push and push and push, and like a flood, they’ll break the dam. The world is overcome by a murky torrent, and everything in its path is caught up in the deluge. It doesn’t take long for the instigators to lose control of the situation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Had they purposefully shifted the target of the people’s discontent? Or had they only wanted war in order to avenge their previous losses? The instigators’ motives were as yet unclear. I didn’t think it was just because I was their enemy. Maybe they didn’t yet know what they wanted either. Perhaps their means had become their goal, and now they were fixated only on winning. Or perhaps it was simply that all other avenues were closed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, I digress. I’m sure this has made things difficult for Grandfather. Even though he’s been a general for so long, facing ordinary citizens on the field…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. I’m sure Master concluded quickly that he had no choice but to fight them.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I suppose… Tanya, thank you for the news. If you hear anything else, please come tell me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Tanya left, I returned to the window. I didn’t sit right away; I stood and glanced back and forth between the view and my own clenched fist.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "War had begun. Now that the powerful, violent stream of the river had overflowed, how far would it travel? Where would it end? I looked outside, then down at my fist. I couldn’t allow myself to be swept up in the current. I couldn’t allow myself to be swallowed. If I fell, if I misstepped, I wouldn’t drown alone. I stood still for a while, as if re-examining my resolve.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm?” Early the next morning, while I was working, one of the documents caught my eye.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, my lady?” Tanya asked from beside me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I need you to confirm something with Architetto. Why haven’t these buildings been demolished?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll find out right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The buildings in question were in the eastern part of Armelia. After the incident with the Boltik family, the duchy had seized the buildings the renegades used as their headquarters, and I had ordered them torn down. When I checked in with Glaus after the incident, he completely ceded his rights to several other properties as a sort of nuisance fee. Thereafter, those buildings had become property of the duchy. I’d deferred deciding what to do with them for a while, but upon re-evaluating the duchy’s infrastructure, I’d decided to demolish all the structures in that area to use the land for different purposes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that I was checking the progress, I was shocked to see that there was no progress. In fact, they hadn’t been touched at all. Honestly, I felt rather pathetic that it had come to this point after I procrastinated on my decision. To be frank, we were in no position to worry about infrastructure.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An official from Architetto whom Tanya had summoned entered the room. “Pardon me, my lady. I’ve returned with the answer to your question.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. So, why has there been no progress on these demolition projects?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, well… Due to the frequent comings and goings of people in the area, construction has been delayed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry—what do you mean by that, exactly?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, well… When our workers checked who kept frequenting the sites, I was told it was the Boltik family.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s impossible. No one owns that land. The duchy seized it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but the construction workers hadn’t confirmed that. Since they didn’t want to cross the Boltik family, they just let it be.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” I made a mental note to contact Glaus. “All right, then. Thank you. I’ll follow up on this later with further instructions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the official from Architetto left my study, I let out a deep sigh. Something about this issue nagged at me. In the grand scheme of things, it was low on my priority list, yet warning bells within my mind told me that I couldn’t put it on the back burner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya, would you call Dida in here, please?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mind was busy as I watched her go. Some people claiming to be the Boltik family were entering property that no longer had any connection to the Boltik family. If it was indeed the Boltik family, then Glaus had some explaining to do. Yet the day that I met him, I’d come away with the firm impression that Glaus wasn’t the sort of man to go back on his word. So, if I trusted my impression, and if this wasn’t happening on Glaus’s orders, then had more renegades appeared? Or, if these people had nothing to do with the Boltik family at all, what in the world were they doing entering these construction sites?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Either way, I had a bad feeling about this. Things were already tense in the kingdom; I couldn’t afford another catastrophe within the duchy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You called for me, Princess?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I’m so sorry to bother you, Dida. I know you’re busy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m never too busy for you. What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I asked myself whether it was a good idea to give Dida this order. He was one of the best men I had. Considering the current climate in the kingdom, I wanted him as close as possible. However, if this was an omen and I ignored it, it might spiral into an even greater problem. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After I mentally drew up a list of pros and cons, I ultimately decided to give him the order. “I want you to travel to the east with one of Tanya’s agents and look into something for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Under these circumstances?” Dida’s gaze grew sharp. I had to laugh at myself; I couldn’t blame him for that reaction.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. My mind is ringing with warning bells, and my gut tells me that we need to look into it immediately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But Princess, like I said, right now? Under these circumstances? As your bodyguard, I don’t want to leave your side for a second.” Dida’s tone was as casual and light as usual, but not a hint of a smile reached his eyes. I’d made his gaze sharpen even more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have Tanya’s agents in every one of our territories, so it wouldn’t take long to discern actions. The thing is, you’re the only one who can tell if Glaus’s words are true. So please, go and be my eyes and ears. Part of your job as my bodyguard is protecting me from danger, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We stared at each other in silence for a while, a heavy tension in the air. It ended suddenly when Dida let out a heavy sigh. “You got me, Princess. If you’re that insistent, you know I can’t disobey.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dida…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure I’m the one for the job? After, you know…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed it still bothered him that he’d been captured by the enemy during the incident in the east. I saw a hint of a shadow fall across his eyes as he turned his gaze downward. I smiled knowingly at him—he really was still worried. But I wasn’t worried about him at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know you don’t make the same mistake twice.” I truly believed that.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m no match for you, Princess,” Dida muttered with a laugh. “All right, then. I promise I’ll do my job without a hitch this time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know you will. I’m counting on you, Dida.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“…Well, you take care of things here.” Dida left everything in Lyle’s hands and headed toward the front door as he made to leave the mansion. He’d arranged his affairs and responsibilities as quickly as possible upon receiving the orders from Iris.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Lady Iris,” Lyle replied with a firm nod.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can rest at ease knowing she’s in your hands. Well, I’ll be seeing you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rather than use the main exit, Dida left the mansion via a narrower path, which was usually used by the servants. As he drew near the gate, he saw someone standing in front of it. It was Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Don’t tell me you went out of your way to see me off?” Dida teased, but she didn’t answer. She just stared at him with a serious gaze, as if studying him. He let out a sigh and started walking again. “I’ll be back.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His tone of voice was just as serious as her gaze.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait,” she called as he passed her. “My agents are already heading toward the east.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, I heard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris seems to be most concerned about this matter, but honestly I also think something suspicious is afoot.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh?” Dida asked, a glint in his eye. Tanya sensed his inner fighter flare quietly for a passing moment. “You got some kind of premonition?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know anything for certain. Be honest—you sense something’s off as well, don’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, yeah. You know the place we’re talking about.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My agents don’t share your objective, but I want you to take this passcode anyway. It will allow you entry to places where you can communicate with them. I’ve already told them about you and to do everything you say.” Tanya passed him a scrap of paper.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks. I owe you one.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-It’s not a big deal. I just want you to carry out Lady Iris’s orders…and to come home safely.” Tanya said it coldly, but it still made Dida smile. He could take “come home safely” in many different ways, after all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You got it. I’ll be watching my back.” With that, he left.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several days had passed since Dida left the mansion. “I wonder if he’s reached the east yet?” I murmured as I worked my way through the stack of papers on my desk. I could only hope that I was worrying needlessly.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Tanya entered. “Pardon me, my lady. I have news for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is it from Dida already?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya’s face tensed, which was unusual for her. She shook her head. “No, but it’s very urgent.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now I grew tense. “What in the world is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The former Lord Monroe’s line of defense is crumbling…and I fear that since we received word, it has only further crumbled.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, my mind went completely blank. I was so confused that it took me a while to comprehend what she had said. Once I did, I took a deep breath to calm myself. “Is this news certain?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I received word from one of my men who I’d placed undercover amongst the former lord’s troops. Taking into account the time it took for the message to reach us, I think it only rational to assume that his line has since fallen.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want to hear details. What circumstances led to this? What about Grandfather’s troops? Surely the second regiment has joined them by now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As of right now, I’ve received no news of Master’s—I mean, General Gazell’s—defeat. Actually, although his regiment and Lord Messi’s private soldiers are outnumbered, they have been fighting valiantly against the enemy. For that reason, the general’s second regiment was instead diverted to provide defense for the former Lord Monroe’s troops, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They lost anyway. The enemy must have sent a great number of troops to Lord Monroe’s domain, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. That’s where they sent a large number of their formal soldiers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The ones fighting in Lord Messi’s domain are mostly militiamen, correct? Perhaps they predicted where Grandfather would be fighting, since it’s where the war began and they knew he was familiar with Lord Messi’s domain after the last war. They directed a large number of militiamen there to outnumber him to ensure that he would be unable to move elsewhere…” I spoke in a stream of consciousness, trying to organize my thoughts out loud. “That’s why they attacked Lord Monroe’s domain later and why they saved the real soldiers for that battle. Ah, but hang on a minute; even though they had a lot of troops, the second regiment was quite large, no? So how were they defeated so quickly after their arrival?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“…Because Monroe’s citizens took Tweil’s side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did you just say?!” I couldn’t help but raise my voice. I was so shocked that I leapt out of my seat with a loud clatter. Tanya’s calm expression brought me to my senses, and I gradually started to calm down too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can never let anyone but her see you like this, even on accident,” I thought in a corner of my mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is the reason behind this betrayal?” I asked, but Tanya shook her head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To the people who lived in Lord Monroe’s domain, this was not an invasion…but a liberation. They have run out of patience for Lord Monroe’s governance, as well as the kingdom of Tasmeria. So they have revolted and sided with Tweil. I have intel that suggests someone there was further fanning their flames.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Divan and his cronies?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. It’s just as you said before.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You said, ‘The world flows just like a great river. If two drops of water decide to go in a different direction, they can’t fight the larger current.’ and ‘Even if some speak against the war, they can’t fight the greater current of popular sentiment. At some point, they’ll turn in the same direction and change their opinions, telling themselves, ‘This is the only way,’ or ‘I have no other choice.’ I think that’s probably what happened to the people of the county of Monroe. Seeds of discontent and anxiety were sewn to the point that they couldn’t envision a future. The seeds were nourished by a steady stream of incitement, and now they’ve bloomed. Even if life looked to improve under the first prince’s rule, it was too late to stop these seeds from growing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true…” I let out an inward sigh. Our enemy had very thoroughly prepared for this. Perhaps they had pretended to be aligned with Lord Monroe while, in truth, their aim had always been to stoke rebellion within the citizens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still, the kingdom’s troops had withdrawn from Monroe, and now the defense troops were retreating as well… “Hang on a second. That means Lord Messi’s domain will be attacked from two sides!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I know. What about backup troops from other domains?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you even think that’s possible? They’re doubless all concerned with protecting their own domains.” The governors of the domains bordering Monroe and Messi’s, surely anticipated attacks as well. It was unlikely any of them would willingly give up their own troops to fight in another domain. Moreover, none of those domains were in a position to sacrifice soldiers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Someone rapped on the door, shouting from the other side. “Lady Iris, terrible news!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re very busy. Is it urgent?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yes! Hostilities have broken out in the east!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was the very last thing I’d expected to hear, and once again my mind went blank. The word “hostilities” didn’t sound real. It was like I had seen the word but didn’t know what it meant. It invaded my head like a stranger. Why? Why? Doubts and questions circled through my head over and over again. No matter how I racked my brain, I couldn’t come up with a cause.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, are you all right?” Tanya peered at me with concern. Her face was awfully pale.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The second I realized that, my last sliver of good sense commanded me to “Calm down, calm down!” I automatically reached up to grasp the pocket watch I wore around my neck. My breaths were shallow, but as I listened to the ticking of the clock, they grew more regular, and gradually I was able to see the things around me clearly once more.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m fine, Tanya.” If I fell and let myself be swallowed by the waves, everyone around me would drown too. I could not stumble at this crucial moment. I kept telling myself that. “Call Lyle and Sebastian here right away. We must discuss this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, my lady!” Tanya broke out into a run, which she rarely did, and rushed out of the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want you to tell me everything you know, down to the smallest detail,” I instructed the messenger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, my lady!” The messenger nodded firmly, although he trembled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Lyle and Sebastian entered the room, I could tell by their tense expressions that Tanya had already informed them of the situation. “Tanya already told you why I called you here, correct?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, but…I’m not quite sure I understand,” Sebastian said, looking quite bewildered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to agree. “I feel the same way. I’ve heard more details, but all we know is the scope of the casualties. We don’t know who our enemy is, nor do we know their goal.” I let out a sigh to try to calm myself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, my lady? What casualties do we know of?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There was a simultaneous attack on the garrison and the town hall. As of now, the town hall is occupied. At present, we know of ten fatalities and several wounded, including government officials, members of the garrisoned forces, and ordinary citizens.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bit my lip and clenched my trembling hands into fists. The metallic taste of blood spread through my mouth, but the sharp pain let me know that this was reality.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady…” Sebastian’s voice was pained as he looked at me. I wasn’t shaking from sadness. While I explained the situation to them, my confusion had cleared, revealing one emotion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How dare they…!” Anger. It made me shake. If someone was dissatisfied with the way I governed Armelia, then they should have taken it up with me. They needed to speak up and state their motives clearly. Instead, they didn’t even try to engage me and gave into their anger. They attacked innocent citizens. That behavior made them far worse than a foreign foe.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The four people in the room looked stunned—they had finally sensed my anger.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And the enemy?” Lyle was the first to come back to himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“According to eyewitness reports, there are about a hundred. According to the surviving members of the garrison, they are highly organized. So they’re not just some mob.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It is true that it would take more than your average thug to defeat our trained officers. They must have planned this a while ago, or they had significant backing…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did those hundred people convene in the first place?” Tanya asked as if just realizing that. Feeling our gazes on her, she hastily added, “I-I’m sorry. It just bothers me. For a group of one hundred people to move in an organized manner, they would have needed meetings to coordinate, as well as a place to store their weapons until the battle began.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All of a sudden, I felt like I had been slapped in the face. “That’s it!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” The four of them looked at me, bewildered.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That must be who was gathering at the buildings we seized. You know, the trespassers that Architetto warned me about. They were using those properties to prepare for today. Several of those buildings have access to the underground sewers. That would give them the ability to appear wherever they wanted in the city without a trace of movement beforehand!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a guess on my part, but after I connected the dots, it made perfect sense. I’d felt strange about this from the start. There was no reason for the Boltik family to trespass into properties when Glaus was their boss. I was even more sure of that now after revisiting the sequence of events that had followed after we took possession of the properties.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Had there been more conflict within the family, and they had split off into another faction? It wasn’t out of the question, but I didn’t think that was what we were facing. After all, trespassing in these properties would only be asking for greater scrutiny from the Boltiks themselves.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The more I hear, the less likely I think the attacks were made by some renegade group related to the Boltiks.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I agree. They must have been planning this for quite some time…almost as if they waited for this exact moment to strike.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The only conclusion I could come to was that they had purposefully waited until the former count’s defense force had fallen. Indeed, they had been bold, attacking city hall and the garrison.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, I heard loud footsteps and the door burst open.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A woman I didn’t recognize entered the room. “Miss Tanya, please pardon me for interrupting, but I have news!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What in the world is it? This is a very important meeting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I realize that. But…” The woman went up to Tanya and whispered in her ear.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What did you just say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I confirmed it with one of your agents before coming here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While they spoke, I confirmed the composition of the garrisons in each of our territories, trying to determine how many of them I could dispatch to the east and how long it would take them to get there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, may I have a word?” asked Tanya.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you finished conferring?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry about that. I have news from Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. And?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida has checked with Glaus about the trespassers, and he says they are not his men, nor anyone he knows. He will watch his men closely just in case, but…after their internal troubles, things have tightened up in his organization to the point that he thinks it very unlikely there are traitors in his midst.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… Well then, who in the world could these people be?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I also have news from the agents who were dispatched to the east. They used their judgment and took it upon themselves to go undercover at city hall to look into the trespassers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your agents are very clever. Did they find anything?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She’ll give her report to Lyle directly after this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m looking forward to it,” Lyle said to the woman who had just spoken to Tanya. She nodded firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Also, my agents have confirmed that the people occupying city hall are the same as those who trespassed on our buildings, just as you suspected, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How did they reach this conclusion?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Apparently, they occasionally speak a language other than Tasmeria’s native tongue. When they do speak in Tasmerian, they do so with an accent. That can’t be mere coincidence.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I tensed at this revelation. I’d sensed something else going on behind the scenes, but the thought of another kingdom’s involvement was shocking. “Do they know what language they’re speaking?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“…It’s Acacian, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A heavy silence filled the room. Even if someone wanted to say something, no one dared speak a word. I felt myself trembling slightly. I slowly closed my eyes. I thought of the cries of help from the people who had come to Armelia from other domains, hoping to escape famine. The cries I heard the day I visited the border crossing still numbed my mind. The memory triggered something in me, and all of a sudden I thought I could hear the cries of my people in the east, begging for help.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I silently scolded myself: Don’t be a coward. There were people who needed my help. If I covered my ears and ignored those cries for aid, they would suffer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lyle, alert our forces to the north and west; they are to leave the bare minimum at their stations, and the rest are to journey to the east. Transfer right of command to Dida. I want him to annihilate the assailants! Tanya, send word to Dida and deliver these orders.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They silently nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I exhaled deeply and started to breathe more regularly. “A governor’s foremost responsibility is to protect the lives of their citizens. If my people are in danger, then I will stop those attempting to harm them by whatever means necessary.” Perhaps part of the reason I said it aloud was because I still trembled slightly. The four people in the room had begun to move, but they froze. “If anyone stands in the way of this aim, you have my permission to eliminate them. Entirely. I shall take responsibility for your actions. I may not possess the physical prowess to lead the charge, but know that my heart is with you. As acting governor, I bear the responsibility for whatever happens and will act accordingly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All four of them stood ramrod straight as they answered in unison, “Yes, my lady!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then they sprang into action.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and Sebastian? Gather two or three members from each ministry and assemble an emergency response team. Bring any information regarding the situation in the east to me immediately.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, my lady!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sebastian rushed to carry out my orders. It didn’t take long for him to gather those people and send the new emergency response team to my study.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, we’ve sent word to the garrisons in each territory, and they have begun dispatching forces to the east.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good. Keep up the good work. Don’t forget to send word to Tanya’s agents informing them of this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sebastian, contact the medical guild and dispatch doctors to the east posthaste. Send a request to the merchant guild for their cooperation as well. Tell them, ‘If you don’t want to see your lifeblood ports destroyed, act now.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s the status of aid we requested for the injured citizens?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s ready to be dispatched right away. We were able to secure the aid at the meeting the other day after numerous budget cuts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s good news. Put Lyle in charge of the delivery. And alert our forces right away so they can guard the supplies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A group of people scurried about busily in my wing of the mansion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-there’s more trouble!” One of my officials came yelling into the room. I wondered what in the world it could be this time, but I silently gestured for him to speak. “A mysterious ship suddenly appeared at the port in the east. They’re armed and are attempting to take over the harbor!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did you just say?” The entire room went silent. I hadn’t meant for my voice to sound so ominous, but it echoed harshly nevertheless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-and word is it’s only a matter of time before they attack the city…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The blood drained from every single person’s face upon hearing this news.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We don’t know if they’re the same people who attacked city hall,” said Lyle. “Perhaps it was someone else, capitalizing on the state of confusion in the east. After all, we have no one there to give orders, nor do we have a fully functional garrison.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded. “Tanya, have one of your agents investigate and report back on the appearance of this new ship right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her confident response made me release a sigh I’d been keeping pent up. Under normal circumstances, any suspicious ships would have been spotted in advance and dealt with right then and there. The center of the eastern territory’s governance was the town hall, which was occupied by enemy forces. Therefore, no one there could give such orders. The garrison was also not yet fully operational, as Lyle said, so they were less able to protect our citizens from new attacks. Even so, I had a hard time believing we’d so carelessly left such an opening.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think Tweil and Acacia are acting in tandem.” Everyone went pale at my suggestion. I could hardly blame them. No one had ever suspected that Acacia might attack Armelia. I had no proof to back it up, but if it was true, it meant things were dire indeed. Acacia was an enormous kingdom. It was possible that the force taking control of my port was merely the vanguard.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-what should we do, Lady Iris?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All eyes turned toward me. I had prepared myself mentally for this, but knowing that my decision could mean life or death for my citizens was a heavier burden than I had imagined. I detached myself from those emotions and thought it through. Honestly, I would have given anything to have more time to think, but I didn’t have that luxury. The east was in danger. I wanted to confirm more of the background details, but I also couldn’t wait for intelligence reports to be gathered on the kingdom of Acacia. I would still order them though, of course.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lyle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Take a regiment and meet up with Dida.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…” It was unusual for Lyle to show any sign of hesitation in response to my orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The strength of one person won’t turn this tide. But your leadership will enable the troops to fight to their utmost abilities.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, but…who will protect you, my lady?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unless I must for some reason flee, the bodyguards remaining here should be sufficient. Besides, if things get dire, I have Tanya.” Lyle seemed to acquiesce at this last acknowledgment, but some hesitation still lingered in his eyes. “Lyle, do you remember what you said to me before? That you would protect me and the things important to me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment I said that, his breath caught in his throat. “Forgive me, my lady. I nearly broke my vow to you. Tanya, I’m counting on you to protect her in my stead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya nodded firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We don’t have much time, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go ahead and ready the troops. Do you have any other additional orders for me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. I transfer authority on the battlefield to you. I shall take on all responsibility for the decisions made there, so I want you to have confidence and do what you think is right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. I shall act knowing you have placed your trust in me. If you’ll excuse me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle bowed and left the room in a rush. As I watched him go, I prayed for his success in battle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“M-my lady… Will Lyle be all right?” Rehme asked with tears in her eyes. They’d known each other since they were children, and she seemed awfully worried about him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll do everything in our power on our end to make sure that he will be.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rehme.” I said her name firmly to discourage any other questions, but she wouldn’t back down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“P-please let me go with him!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was momentarily astounded by her request.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can speak Acacian! I also have many tomes with information about the kingdom. If negotiations with their soldiers are at all possible, I’m certain that I will be very useful!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I immediately dismissed her request. “It’s a very attractive offer, Rehme, but I’m going to have to say no.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“B-but why…?!” Tears streamed down her face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because you can’t protect yourself. If you come along, you’ll be in the way and hinder their progress. Please understand, Rehme,” I said in the firmest tone of voice I could muster.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We stared at each other in silence for a moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forgive my impertinence, my lady,” Rehme finally said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry, Rehme.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Honestly, I wished I could go as well. I wanted to be there to give orders in real time. It frustrated me to be unable to do so. Nevertheless, there were things only I could do, and I needed to do them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Send a request to the kingdom’s army for assistance at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And I want to send a personal letter to Acacia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-but, my lady… We still haven’t confirmed that Acacia is behind the attacks…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. I won’t say anything directly; I just want to feel them out. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for me to send a letter to the prince, after all.” The only caveat was that I would have to be extra careful to conceal my true feelings in the letter. If I set the way I truly felt to paper, it would be a letter filled with condemnation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tanya? I know this is an unreasonable request, but do you think your agents would be able to gather intelligence in Acacia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Actually…” Tanya looked at me and hesitated for a moment. I started to regret asking something that would require so much trouble at such short notice, but then she continued. “I already have some agents in Acacia doing just that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was so surprised it took me a moment to reply. “Goodness! You’re awfully prepared, aren’t you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I made the decision on my own, but…it was regarding you, my lady. I sent my agents to Acacia the instant the prince approached you about marriage. At present, I’m just waiting for their reports.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ah, so it had to do with the proposal. I was thoroughly impressed with Tanya’s judgment. “Let me know as soon as you get that information.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, I understand that you wish to send a request for assistance from the kingdom’s army, but can they spare any soldiers during this time of war?” Sebastian asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I shared his apprehension, but I had no choice but to ask for aid. We just didn’t have the military force required. At the same time, I couldn’t count on help either. When you’re drowning and grasping at straws, you’re still going to drown.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So I needed to think, then think some more. My mind was racing. I thought of several plans that weren’t even really plans yet, which popped into my head and disappeared just as quickly. I couldn’t think straight, perhaps because of the anxiety. I was lost in a labyrinth of thoughts, all circling back to “What should I do?” and “What can I do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh to clear my head. Then I surrendered myself to the waves of thoughts once more. This time, I couldn’t get lost, and I couldn’t drown. I had to identify each problem and put my goals in order.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Armelia may be farther from Tweil than we are here, but you never know what will happen in times of war. If you sense any sparks from the fires of war have spread to you, you must let your mother know at once.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, my mother’s words flashed through my mind. I spoke one of my ideas aloud. “I’m going to ask House Anderson for aid directly, through my mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "House Anderson’s personal guard was composed entirely of powerful soldiers trained by my grandfather, which meant that they had the best training in the entire kingdom.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But my lady… It’s against Tasmerian law to dispatch one’s private guard to another domain!” one of the Codice officials protested.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As I said, I will ask for aid through my mother. What would be strange about my mother returning home to Armelia and bringing along a sizable number of bodyguards at such a dangerous time in the kingdom?” Even I had to admit, that was quite a gray area of the law. “I shall notify the first prince myself. If there’s a consequence to be had for asking consent after the fact, then I shall take full responsibility.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although honestly, I didn’t think Dean would protest. If those around him did, then I would indeed assume responsibility. If I had the power to save the duchy, then this was my best chance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I shall prepare the letters this minute. Meanwhile, I want you to gather all the information you have and respond accordingly! Our utmost priority is to protect the duchy!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After everyone rushed off to get to work, I returned to my study to start writing letters. First, I had to explain the situation to my uncle, who was currently the head of House Anderson, and formally request aid. Next, I had to suppress my boiling rage toward the kingdom of Acacia and compose a letter that was not accusatory but which clearly demonstrated that we grasped the situation at hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then, I wrote a letter to the Ministry of Defense, explaining the situation and formally requesting aid. Finally, I wrote a letter to Dean. As I did so, my hands suddenly froze. I wondered what he was doing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to chuckle wryly at myself for thinking something so foolish. He was fighting, of course, just as I was. But he shouldered far more responsibility than I did. Several times since returning home, I’d had to bite my lip to stop myself from calling for Dean aloud. Doing so had become second nature. He had been by my side during every grueling ordeal I’d faced as governor. Perhaps that was why I found myself wishing over and over, “If only he were here…” and “I want to be with him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed I had become quite weak. But I had many lingering regrets. We’d said goodbye to each other that day, determined to travel down different paths, even if we headed in the same direction. Wasn’t that the decision I made? Nothing had changed. Spoiling myself and choosing the easy path would destroy everything I had worked so hard to build up. As such, I absolutely would not allow myself to run to or depend overmuch on others.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I picked up my pen once more and continued to write. I wrote to the prince not as Iris but as the acting governor of the domain of Armelia.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The royal palace was known for maintaining a constant air of elegant austerity, but at present it was uncharacteristically chaotic. People ran back and forth, and shouts could be heard from all over. Members of the royal family, who were most esteemed for their refined conduct, should have turned their noses up at the uncouth behavior and tense atmosphere, or perhaps even shrunk back in horror. However, Leticia was going to and fro, seemingly unbothered.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? There you are, Brother! I’ve been looking for you.” She had been searching for her older brother, Prince Alfred.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Letty, how in the world did you find me here?” Alfred didn’t look particularly surprised to see his sister, but he did seem a little tired.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just searched all the places I figured you would be, that’s all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah…” Alfred let out a wry chuckle at the triumphant look on her face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Things have grown awfully noisy, haven’t they?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, they have… He really left me with a mess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When will you be leaving for battle?” All of a sudden, Leticia’s cheerful, lighthearted tone disappeared and her voice became direly serious. Her abrupt change of attitude startled Alfred for a moment, delaying his response.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In that moment of hesitation, he decided it would be pointless to beat around the bush, so he confirmed with his next question. “How did you know about that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I could guess as much even though I can’t attend the meetings. War broke out in the midst of a downturn in the royal family’s popularity. Therefore, it’s crucial for you, as the future king, to go to the battlefield yourself and show our people that you will not abandon our kingdom. Moreover, you’re the only one who can unite both the kingdom’s army and the knights behind your cause. You built a relationship with the soldiers as Dean, and training with the knights has guaranteed that they will follow you. We need all the military strength we can get, so there’s no better person to lead the charge. I know that means you’ll be risking your life and your safety, but this is the greatest chance to build on your achievements as future king. So, for all those reasons, I also believe you should go to battle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re exactly right, Letty. But I doubt you came looking for me just to tell me you agree with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, but…first I want to know why you’re here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because I just received a letter from Lord Armelia’s daughter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh!” Joy spread across Leticia’s face at the name, but she swiftly regained her composure. “I heard there’s all sorts of trouble in Armelia. Has she requested military aid?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Unfortunately, under these circumstances, I can’t provide it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true, taking the urgent situation in the north under consideration. Then Armelia will…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She anticipated we wouldn’t be able to provide the aid she needed, so she went ahead and sent a request to House Anderson for their cooperation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia let out a noise of admiration. “I’d expect nothing less from Lady Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then why do you look so distraught?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not for you to worry about.” Alfred quickly and firmly dismissed her question, because she had hit the nail on the head; he was distraught. She—Iris, that was—had said that she wanted him to approve her request as the acting governor of Armelia to receive troops from House Anderson’s private guard. The request in and of itself was not the problem. Some nobles might have something to say about it later, but when one considered Armelia’s situation, it was clear there was no other choice. Alfred had already decided to give his full support. He didn’t have a problem with any of that. The problem lay in the final part of her letter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the end, she had written not as the acting governor of Armelia toward the future king but toward “Dean,” who had worked for Armelia. It said: “Do not, under any circumstances, act as ‘Dean.’” And that since this was Armelia’s problem, they would deal with it themselves. She said regardless of their past connections, he did not need to help her when he already had his hands full with his own catastrophe. This was the message she had left for Dean.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred couldn’t just dismiss it as some nonsense. In fact, up until he read that last paragraph, he had been wondering what he could do to help—as “Dean,” of course. Even though he knew full well that any levelheaded person would say he should go to the north under these circumstances, he was still trying to rack his brains to determine a way to return to Armelia. These thoughts had plagued him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His rational mind knew what he should do as the king. On the other hand, the desire to go to Iris’s aid roiled in the depths of his heart, daring to rise to the surface at any moment. The state of his own emotions bewildered and filled him with frustration. Consequently, his clear distress.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I can’t force you to answer me. I shall tell you why I came to see you, nonetheless.” Leticia’s voice pulled Alfred out of his reverie and back to reality. “I’ve been thinking about inciting a coup d’état and have come to confer with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?!” Even Alfred was flabbergasted by this announcement. Historically—actually, not all that historically, since it had happened so recently—the two princes had fought a wretched battle for succession. So who in the world in their right mind would speak about instigating a coup d’état at this moment, not to mention asking the opposing party’s advice? “What kind of joke is this, Leticia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Taking all of that into account, his question was most reasonable.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not a joke. I’ve been dreaming about this for ages.” The smile on Leticia’s face was adorable, yet the words coming out of her mouth were beyond extreme. “I’ve lived my whole life being protected by you. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that you’re the only reason I’m still alive.” Her voice took on a sing-song quality. “That’s why I started dreaming. Dreaming about being useful to you. I want to help you shoulder those heavy burdens of yours.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was difficult to see how that sentiment was connected to a coup. Alfred gave her a confused look, wondering what the connection was.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Answer me honestly. Do you see becoming the king as nothing more than a burden?” Leticia asked. “Truth be told, do you really care at all?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t be ridiculous, Letty. If that were true, then why would I be sitting here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because the only way to keep us both alive was to sit in that throne. Surely you wouldn’t have been satisfied with our other brother and Ellia merely giving up succession rights and becoming your subjects.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was all true. So for a moment, Alfred couldn’t say a word. “Still, I was only ever destined to sit here on this throne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lies.” Letitia dismissed him with a laugh. “That’s not the only destiny in your heart. You were so happy when you worked in Armelia. Even now, you were fighting yourself over your position as future king versus your personal desires, were you not?” After those words left Leticia’s mouth, the smile vanished from her face and was replaced with a grave expression. “Brother, I have no doubt in my mind that you would make a wonderful king, if you ascended to the throne as things stand. You would serve as the cogs that would make this kingdom turn and do a good job of it too. But there’s a difference between the things you could do and the things you should do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t think I could put forth my best effort?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. Not if it means you have to lose her and your heart freezes over.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred let out a scornful laugh. “My heart? You think that’s a king’s most important quality?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia didn’t answer him. She just stared back at him silently.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have you forgotten our father? Our father who was absolutely negligent in all matters after he lost our mother?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am too young to remember ever meeting him, so truthfully, no. I only know what I’ve heard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred smiled in acknowledgment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not saying heart is everything. Of course I know that sometimes it’s necessary to make levelheaded judgments. But the heart…it’s the one factor that leads people to follow another. And although people will follow those with heart, it’s also human nature to say…things. No matter how talented you are, go too well, your heart becomes isolated and fearful. The order of our kingdom is being sliced apart by a sharp blade and built anew. We’re showing as much strength as we can. But will you have the heart to unite the people once more? That depends on how you implement your plans.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. I’ll take that into consideration.” Alfred started to rise to his feet, signaling an end to the conversation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Brother! Please, hear me out until the end!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have my dignity as your brother, Letty. Do you really think I would let you take on such a heavy responsibility on your own and just move on?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wouldn’t be alone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, nothing… I just mean, I honestly wouldn’t mind.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred’s gaze grew sharper when he saw her grow flustered and shy. “Nevertheless, I want to be king. Even if I have to do for the sake of my ideals.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, there was a knock at the door. After Alfred said to enter, Berne came into the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me, Your Highness, there’s something I need to check—Princess Leticia?” Berne tensed, sensing the atmosphere in the room. “Ah, it seems you’re in the middle of something. Shall I come back later?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia spoke first. “No, Berne. You can stay there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want you to hear this too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A troubled look came over Berne’s face at her serious tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as he watched their exchange. “That reminds me, Berne. Didn’t you say you had already met Letty before I introduced you to her?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, when I visited the palace to give the queen dowager a message on my father’s behalf. I fear I was rude to her then, as I had no idea she was the princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I told you before, you weren’t rude at all.” Leticia smiled wryly at Berne. “Berne, what do you think about Lady Iris’s social standing as the acting governor of Armelia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne looked truly perplexed by the question. Not only that, but he had no idea that Alfred had once worked as Iris’s right-hand man in Armelia—miraculously, he had never been in the duchy at the same time as “Dean.” The reason he was perplexed was purely because he had no idea why Leticia would ask that question, at this moment. “As someone who serves in the kingdom’s government, I think that her marriage into another kingdom would be a terrible loss for Tasmeria.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh?” Alfred listened with interest and urged Berne to continue.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This might sound like bias, as I’m her brother, but my older sister is extremely gifted. Specifically, she has a talent for bringing people together and convincing them to follow her. I doubt she’s aware of it, though.” A hardened smile crossed Berne’s face. “It’s become even more apparent to me since I started working for you, Your Highness. Although I do pride myself in having more knowledge than my sister in some areas, such as the precedents for each of the kingdom’s laws and policies and such.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve heard great things about your enthusiasm—that even during your free time, you’ve been studying at the palace library and receiving private instruction from specialists,” said Alfred. “Some people have said you have such an intensity when you’re immersed in your studies that they dare not speak to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for the compliments, Your Highness. Still, I’m not even close to my sister’s caliber.” Despite Alfred’s praise, Berne’s look was stern rather than smiling. “The foundation of putting work into practice is knowledge. If you don’t have a certain amount of knowledge, you won’t be able to do your job effectively. Conversely, even if you have that knowledge, being able to utilize it effectively is a whole separate issue.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Knowledge was just a tool. Someone could ask you to use it without understanding it themselves. “My sister knows how to use the things she sees and hears. Her ability to innovate is truly extraordinary.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred had to privately agree with Berne on that one, because as of late, he had spent more time with Iris than Berne had. Therefore, he felt he had likely seen her abilities up close more than even her brother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Most of all, she’s surrounded herself with highly capable people. She always says that her staff is her greatest treasure. She fully supports them and creates an environment that encourages their growth, but I think that the main reason they’re so loyal to her is because she’s herself. If she’s lacking in any area, they fill the gap. No matter how much I try to learn, I understand that ultimately there’s a limit to what I alone can do. I don’t have the time to learn every single thing about every single field. But my sister has assembled experts in all those fields, and she encourages diligence. I know this is a terribly roundabout way of saying it, but I think that knowing how to do one’s job effectively, as well as possessing leadership qualities that make talented people want to follow you, is far more important than sheer breadth of knowledge. My sister has all of that. Not to mention, she’s an expert in a number of particular subjects. As such, all in all, I think it would be a shame for the kingdom to let her go.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… Then I take it you are opposed to her marriage, Berne?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not the idea of marriage entirely, no. However, I want her to stay in Tasmeria. If I have to cede my right of succession to be the next Duke Armelia to make that happen, then so be it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The reason Armelia is what it is today is because of her work. She’s the one who deserves to be the governor. I’m certain that the people of Armelia share my sentiment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps this is an insensitive question, but are you really all right with that?” Leticia asked. “It doesn’t upset you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Leticia said, it was insensitive, but there was also a hint of bitterness in her voice. After all, the foundation of the kingdom was built on primogeniture, the passage of succession and inheritance to firstborn heirs. Most of the time, these rights were reserved for the oldest son. It was rare indeed that a woman inherited. For instance, if an aristocratic couple had no sons and only daughters, or if the oldest son passed away before he could become head of house, they would name the oldest male in the next generation their heir and wait until he came of age to succeed. Honestly, it was unheard of for a woman to become head of house while a healthy son still lived. Even if a woman did become heir, it would only be because there were absolutely no living males even distantly related to succeed or there was some other substantial problem with the eligible men.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, even if Berne did give up his rights, it was inevitable that people would assume something must be very wrong with him for Iris to be named heir. Even though it wouldn’t be true, people were so stuck on customs and tradition that they would just assume it was. Leticia’s question came from the same place.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not at all,” Berne answered with a pleasant smile. “Who cares what other people say? I wouldn’t hesitate to cede my rights if it meant that it was in the best interests of the people. Those are my thoughts on the matter.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, Alfred detected something off with what Berne just said. “Wait. You’re not telling me the whole truth, are you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne didn’t flinch. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he said calmly. “I was giving my impression on my sister’s prospective marriage in response to Her Highness Princess Leticia’s question.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred let out an amused laugh. Oh, how things have changed, he thought. It was especially amusing to him after he’d seen Berne be part of Yuri’s adoring entourage from afar. “I’m sad, Berne. I thought we might be able to open up and be frank with each other. Have you not yet fully accepted me as your master, and so you aren’t letting me into your trusted inner circle?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They stared at each other for a while, as if trying to seek out the truth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first one to give in was Berne. “This is only my opinion. There’s no need to listen to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your Highness, remember what I told you before?” Berne asked. “That I had seen hell on earth.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I remember.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The people responsible for that hell were the nobility, Your Highness. Once, nobles were the ones who brought the people together and protected them. They took on that responsibility to earn their status. Over time, they have forgotten those obligations and have been reduced to nothing but arrogant, insolent burdens who do nothing but oppress the citizens.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know. Hence my decision to punish the nobles guilty of those crimes most severely, to serve as a deterrent against that sort of behavior in the future.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne smiled weakly. “As I said before, nobles tend to forget their self-respect and responsibilities with the passage of time. Who’s to say the same thing won’t happen again?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true. You’re absolutely correct, Berne. That’s why it’s urgent that we set up a new system in this kingdom. We need even more reforms so that we never forget these wounds.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. But, Your Highness, I firmly believe that ‘Unless people change their consciousness, nothing will change in the end.’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Before I answer, Your Highness, may I ask a question?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You may.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is the difference between nobles and ordinary citizens?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s awfully general. If I were to give you a superficial answer, it would be wealth and power. However, their lifestyles and values also differ.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I agree. But I think that if you really consider it, that’s all it is.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Which means…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The difference is nothing more than where you happened to be born and the environment in which you grew up. It has nothing to do with one’s temperament or abilities. It’s the same for men and women. Gender may bring some differences, but it has nothing to do with actual personality,” Berne said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As he spoke, it was almost as if he were arranging his thoughts out loud. “The differences between social statuses and gender are laid out in separate tracks at birth. At first glance, this is an efficient system because your future is planned out for you from the start. All one has to do is work toward that set future. However, that doesn’t mean one is born with talent. The son of a governor doesn’t necessarily have the qualities to become a good governor himself. A merchant’s son doesn’t necessarily have a knack for trade. Of course, one could make up for lack of talent with hard work. But who would do that when their future is already promised to them? Certainly I’m not saying that there aren’t any hard workers amongst those due to inherit such responsibilities, however…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred’s eyes widened. Berne’s argument was entirely outrageous to him, but at the same time, he couldn’t ignore it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When one’s future has been predetermined, there is no necessity for growth. At the same time, other talents one may have been born with remain undiscovered. So, no matter what kind of new system you may devise, as long as it’s done within the confines of this restrictive environment, the kingdom will remain stagnant.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So in other words, you’re saying you have misgivings about the class system itself—particularly the existence of the noble class?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Given the opportunity, Berne directly argued against the class system—which, in the current status quo in the kingdom—was unheard of. “The nobles are the ones who created that hell, because they were handed guaranteed futures and did nothing but rest on their laurels.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But, Berne, if you think people’s futures should be decided not by birthright or gender, but on their own personality and talents, then the kingdom would become a meritocracy. Then wouldn’t the people who were aiming for the same future be entangled in a struggle with each other?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, they would. First, I want to say that I’m not entirely against the class system. There are good and bad sides to any organizational structure. It’s true that there are positive aspects to an heir being decided beforehand, such as no pointless fighting and an uninterrupted flow of succession.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then what are you trying to say?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That if we don’t change the peoples’ consciousness, then nothing will change in the end. Your Highness, what I suggested before is so radical it can’t even really be discussed. That’s the problem.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In the current environment, no opportunities exist. Everyone is so stuck on their idea of how things should be that there aren’t even choices. Why don’t the ordinary citizens have any say in the government? Why can’t women advance in our society? The same goes for my sister. If she were a man, she would never be asked to cede her domain. One only need look to Armelia to see her power and talent. Perhaps the advantages to her crossing the sea and marrying into another kingdom are considerable in some respects, but even still, it is my personal opinion that the loss to Tasmeria will outweigh all those merits. Yet the status quo of our kingdom wouldn’t hear of it. Women ‘must’ protect the home, women ‘should’ marry and bear children; if she has to marry anyway, it ‘might as well’ be to the best possible suitor. Because those thoughts are in the forefront of everyone’s minds, no one dares to offer an alternative. Everyone is trapped in the cage of conventions and pretending they don’t see the incredible loss this kingdom would suffer were she to leave.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That remark sounds painfully true—that we are trapped in the cage of conventions…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This was quite long-winded, Your Highness,” Berne apologized, “but that is the answer to your question, when you asked if I was upset. I wouldn’t feel right if I weren’t upset. The fact is, my sister is the eldest child and she possesses more talent for governance. Of course I feel frustrated that I can’t measure up, but none of my negative feelings have anything to do with the fact of her womanhood. Furthermore, my greater feelings are that my sister should remain in the kingdom as Armelia’s governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A satisfied smile appeared on Leticia’s face. “Brother, I came here to tell you the same thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?” said Alfred.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness, have you forgotten? I came to tell you that I want to be the next monarch,” Leticia said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Half of the people in this kingdom are women, yet the government is composed exclusively of men,” Leticia went on. “That means all of our policies and laws are made from only their point of view. Even when Grandmother was queen, she was treated as little more than a link to the future king until Father succeeded her. So, I want to become the first true female monarch and govern the kingdom from an entirely new perspective. I want to bring forth new opportunities for our citizens and create a new system of values.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia spoke clearly and firmly as she faced Alfred. “As I said before, you’ve already divided our kingdom with a sharp blade. Right now, it’s broken. I’m the one who’s going to rebuild it. I’m already doing a great deal of your work and have experience in every area of concern. You know there’s no one better for the job than me, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alfred laughed at her statement. “Ha ha ha! I never would’ve dreamed that’s what you wanted, Letty. I had no idea.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh heh. So have I done well?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They smiled at each other.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see, I see. You’ve got more practical experience for the job than a cabinet minister, so there’s no question about your abilities. Not to mention, you have Grandmother as both your backing and confidante. It’s not beyond the realm of possibilities at all. Now if only something happened to both Prince Edward and Prince Alfred, not even the nobles could argue with your succession…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Exactly. So you see, Brother? It’s a coup d’état.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne, who had just happened upon this conversation between the siblings in the first place, looked thoroughly baffled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It certainly seems that way. But, Letty, right now this is nothing but a dream. If you bring about this reality and are rejected, will you still try to force your ideals to come to fruition?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia’s eyes were serious and filled with resolve. “Not having ideals is the same as wandering without a destination. If I become the monarch, it doesn’t matter how vigorously people try to deny me or if things don’t go smoothly. I will continue dreaming. I will continue looking forward. I’ve already prepared myself for the possibility that the path ahead will be rocky.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, if you’ve thought it all out that far, Letty, surely you know what I must do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course.” Leticia whispered a few words in Alfred’s ear, to which he nodded. “Now you can go off to war without any worries. I’ll take care of everything here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t want my little sister to have to do these things… But if you understand that, then I can go to the north with a free conscience.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. If anything at all comes up, I’ll deal with it. I want you to focus on the war. I’ll be praying for your safety.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A bell rang with a heavy, majestic sound. Alfred rose to his feet.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m off.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Be careful,” said Berne.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be praying for your safety in the fray,” said Leticia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, they watched Alfred go.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure that was for the best?” Berne asked her after Alfred left the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That I was here for this discussion. No matter how I look at it, I’m not sure someone of my position should have been privy to such a conversation.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia smiled wryly. “I suppose you’re right. Nevertheless, ever since I met you in the gardens of the palace, I wanted to ask what you thought. I was awfully interested.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne gave her a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia pressed her lips together as if suppressing a laugh. “What I heard just now surpassed my expectations. Thank you, Berne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no need to thank me. All I did was say what I think. But may I ask you something?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you want to be the monarch because that’s what you truly want, or is it because as you said that day in the gardens, you want to help shoulder your brother’s burdens?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia’s smile deepened. “It’s true that I want to take on brother because I’ve had to entirely rely on him. But my pride won’t allow me to continue being the one always under protection. Berne, what you said to me that day—it lit a fire in me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Berne’s eyes widened with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d always had these vague doubts in my head about the government and the way things operated in the kingdom, ever since I was a little girl. Your words brought clarity to those feelings. I decided I wanted to change things. That’s when I truly found the resolve to set my sights on the throne. So, Berne, to answer your question, I want to become the monarch of my own free will, and for my own desires.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s why I want you to walk down that path by my side. Because your thoughts so closely mirror my ideals.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You want me to work for you, you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know about your first conversation with my brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A guilty look crossed Berne’s face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first time he had seen Alfred was at the palace, after he had returned from that hellish landscape.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shouldn’t you be going to see Edward?” That was the first thing Alfred had said to him, his smile amused.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I came here because I want to undo the horrible things happening across the land. I’m prepared to work myself to the bone for the people of this kingdom.” Berne said it matter-of-factly, as if to say he had no interest in the feud between the brothers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alfred laughed heartily. “Ah, I see. So it could have been either of us. You want to use me to further your own ideals.” He murmured with interest, “Very well, then. Use me all you want. But once you’re finished with me, I will fire you instantly. You’ve put on quite the show. I won’t let you say you can’t do it either. In exchange, you can keep your watchful eye on me. If you ever bear witness to me slighting the people in any way, go ahead and abandon me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I agree. I shall walk down the same path as long as Your Highness lives to serve the kingdom and its people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was how their relationship of master and aide had been established.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I haven’t forgotten what I said either,” said Berne. “It was a vow to myself. So, I rushed headlong into it. Be that as it may, there’s no reason for me to leave His Highness’s side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you not hear our conversation? If I ascend to the throne, my brother will naturally remove himself from the kingdom’s government. That’s why I want you to walk by my side instead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The only thing I can truthfully say is that no matter what the situation becomes, it will not change my focus.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia smiled. “I see. That’s enough for me. Now, Berne. I’m sure the orders have already come down from my brother. All the responsibilities inside the palace will be transferred from him to me. There are several things I need to check, so come to my study with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, they left together.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, Merellis was at the Armelias’ manor in the capital getting ready. Beneath her cloak she wore men’s clothes that were easy to move in. Her sword hung at her waist. Her hair was twisted up in a simple bun, and she wore no jewelry.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re leaving?” Louis asked when she entered his room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Silence fell between them. They stared at each other wordlessly for a few moments, their eyes speaking everything their mouths did not. They both saw the conflict and emotion reflected in the other. Their eyes said, “I don’t want to let you go; I don’t want to be apart,” yet neither of them spoke the words.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Instead, Merellis smiled, taking it all in before finally speaking. “Never fear. I promise I’ll return to my husband’s side alive. That’s the only place I can call home, darling—by your side.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Louis smiled again. “I know. I believe in you. I can’t go with you, but you know that my heart is always by yours. I will help shoulder the burdens you can’t bear alone, and I will protect you from all that stands in your way from afar. The vow I made to you long ago will never change. Go, without any reservations.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes… Yes, I will. I’m leaving now, darling.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Merellis headed for House Anderson. She exchanged a few pleasantries before proceeding directly to meet with her older brother, Pax.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris told me what’s happening,” he said with a heavy voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. I’m sorry, Brother, but…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your daughter truly is meticulous. She came up with a justification to send our soldiers to Armelia and even sent a notification to the first prince!” Pax interrupted her with a wry chuckle. “I’ve already summoned some troops. However, I can’t send very many.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s understandable. How many?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A hundred active duty. Mostly those who have fought on the battlefield with you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then we’ll be fine.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve called them here but given no orders. Whether they follow and obey will be up to you.” It sounded as if Pax was issuing a challenge: Can you make them obey?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s fine. They would follow orders issued by their governor, of course, but at the end of the day, I’m the one leading them. If they don’t follow my orders, then we’re in for chaos on the battlefield. Is that what you’re afraid of?” Merellis responded, seemingly unfazed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You certainly are perceptive when it comes to war.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How rude. Perhaps it used to be, but I’ve since transitioned to navigating the waters of high society as a duke’s wife.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but you also treat that like a battlefield.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True,” she acknowledged with a laugh. “In any case, thank you, Brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll pray for your success in battle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis left her brother’s study in high spirits, then made her way to the sparring grounds, where the private guard of House Anderson was assembled. The hundred or so soldiers were already waiting for her, standing in rank and file. As soon as she appeared, a buzz spread through the grounds but quickly died down. Merellis didn’t say anything in particular to make that happen. She just stood there. Her commanding presence was more than enough to silence everyone on the spot.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Mer, and I’ve been charged with commanding this regiment. Some of you may already know me, but for those who don’t, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her voice was soft and light, a stark contrast to the tension that enveloped the crowd. In the next moment, her tone grew stern and flat. “We’re heading to the duchy of Armelia. They are under attack by two separate forces of unknown origin. Their only line of defense are the Armelian garrisons. Even after we add our numbers to the battle, we will be at a disadvantage. However, I believe that as long as we are together and charge headlong into battle, we have the power to turn things in our favor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis looked over at the gathered people and smiled. A shiver raced through the soldiers’ hearts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Each and every one of you are fearless fighters trained by the great General Daz Gazell himself, so you have nothing to fear. I shall clear the way for you. I shall lead you to victory. Fear nothing and follow me. Do not drown in the sea of blood but breathe in it. Go to that line between life and death and come out the other side alive.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She spoke with a frank, even tone, yet her words had a strange, alluring magic that everyone felt at once. It was as if they could see the battlefield behind her in that moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We will not be defeated. Because if we fall, then Armelia falls, and so does House Anderson. Then everyone you hold dear shall be lost in the flames of war.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The look in the soldiers’ eyes changed. She had stirred the survival instincts within them and lit the fire of their fighting spirit. Her words fell over them and imbued them with her passion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let us destroy them and deliver a soul-crushing defeat. May we emblazon the name of House Anderson upon their minds and fill their hearts with fear so that they shall never, ever dare to do something so foolish as to invade our kingdom again.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers raised their swords in unison, proof that she had captured their hearts.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A pleased smile crossed Merellis’s face as she looked around at the sight. It lasted only a fleeting moment. She gave her orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon after, she was leading her soldiers on horseback toward Armelia. She rode furiously and with such skill that even these impeccably trained soldiers could barely keep up with her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me, Captain. We’ve finished replenishing our supplies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They stopped a few times en route to rest and replenish supplies, but they still neared their destination in roughly half the usual time it took to get there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers called Merellis their captain, and she spoke and acted as such. “Very well. We’re almost to Armelia. I want you to double check and make sure everyone has the equipment they need. We’ll leave in ten minutes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Captain!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers’ tension grew as they got closer and closer to Armelia. It was increasingly apparent in the ones who had never been to battle before.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shrey, if you see anyone rattled by their nerves, go talk to them. A certain amount of anxiety is normal, but if it’s too much, then it can dull their reflexes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Captain. Although I think as soon as they see how you fight, all their nerves will disappear.” Shrey’s normal lighthearted manner was gone, replaced by a serious, heavy mood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those like Shrey, who had shared the battlefield with Merellis before, carried a different kind of tension than those who hadn’t yet seen her in action. The greenhorns were experiencing a crushing pressure alongside their anxiety, while the veterans nursed an invigorating excitement. It meant a great deal to them that Merellis was leading them. They had seen what she could do on the battlefield, and now that she burned with an even greater intensity, they felt an awe and reverence, just as Shrey did. Normally he kept his reverential feelings toward her well hidden, but the gravity in his voice now couldn’t conceal it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really? I’m not so sure about that,” Merellis chuckled wryly. It wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to say that Shrey had blind faith in her. She caught herself responding to him in her normal tone. “Anyway, please do so. If you sense any problems at all, let me know right away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ten minutes later, after he reported that all her orders had been carried out smoothly and there were no problems, they were back on the road.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 10",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 25: The Duke’s Daughter and the War",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 25:The Duke’s Daughter and the War",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "THE NORMALLY BUSTLING PORT of eastern Armelia was now filled with tension. The garrison had been attacked, and city hall was under occupation. On the heels of that assault, an armed group took the port by force. The once busy streets were nearly empty; it was no wonder that smiles had disappeared from the people’s faces. Meanwhile, Dida had acted on Iris’s orders and taken the bare minimum number of men to fight the forces both at city hall and the port.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The armed group at the port were dressed in military uniforms—the kind Acacian soldiers wore. The very situation Iris and the others feared was unfolding before Dida’s eyes. Even though he had anticipated this, a part of him still couldn’t believe that it was actually happening. A cold sweat dripped down Dida’s back in the tense atmosphere. You really never know what can happen, he thought.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy had mobilized as the sun rose, trying to invade the town. Dida worked with the garrison to deal with these attacks and keep them under control. Since the eastern towns had been founded long ago, most of the roads were very narrow and winding, which gave Dida an advantage; it limited the number of enemy soldiers that could enter from any point at a given time. Dida used the layout of the city as he deployed his men, focusing on protecting the citizens. That didn’t change the fact that the situation was growing worse and worse.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida! The first company’s total wounded soldiers have surpassed thirty percent!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Withdraw the first company and send the second company to the front line. Trade out quickly so the enemy won’t have a chance to strike.” Dida spoke in his usual light tone, but deep within, he was fraught with anxiety and apprehension. Even though few soldiers were gravely wounded, as time wore on, more and more were getting hurt. Most of all, everyone was increasingly fatigued. Only a handful had ever seen real battle before this, so their nerves exacerbated that fatigue. The main thought going through Dida’s mind was that at this rate, they wouldn’t last more than a few more days—though he didn’t dare say it aloud. If the enemy broke through their line of defense, they could easily reach the duchy’s capital. And here, they had neither the armaments nor the structural advantage needed to withstand an invasion.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Most of all, Iris would be devastated if anything happened to the citizens. Dida couldn’t let that happen.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He scratched his head as he looked around. He wanted to escape this dead-end situation and his own negative thoughts. Just then, a group of men caught his eye. They were carrying wounded soldiers to medical treatment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey! Who are they? They’re not from our company.” They weren’t wearing the garrison’s uniform but regular clothes like you’d see anywhere in town. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right for a group like that to be rushing into battle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-oh, these are local volunteers.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Hey, you! Hurry up and evacuate! Can’t you see it’s dangerous here? If anything happens to you, that’ll really put us in a bind!” Dida yelled as he approached them. The citizens jolted in surprise for a moment, then glared and yelled at him in return.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We live here! How can we just sit around and do nothing when you’re risking your lives for us?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, this is our town! We can’t fight, but the very least we can do is help out!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The men shouted so vehemently Dida was speechless for a moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, a woman ran up from behind him. She yelled at the men carrying the wounded and directed them. “Don’t just stand there, hurry up and carry the wounded to the medics! That fellow you’ve got needs attention right away! Take them over there! Lay that man down right there!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-hey, this isn’t a place for women and children.” Dida had been watching her with astonishment, but once he came back to his senses, he reached out and grabbed the woman’s hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How dare you spout such nonsense when you could use all the help you can get!” The woman glared at him. “I’ll have you know, I’m studying medicine at the academy in the capital! My knowledge could be very useful! You shouldn’t underestimate women and children!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, Dida was rendered speechless. When his mind started working again, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud despite the situation. Meanwhile, the woman continued to briskly give out orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right…gender has nothing to do with it,” he said softly. His thoughts turned to Iris, who was in the capital of Armelia, as well as Tanya and his other female childhood friends. Shame on me. I already knew this.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Each of them had found their paths and worked hard to get where they were today. When he thought about how they had persevered through tough times to achieve their ends, it seemed absolutely ridiculous to judge someone based on their gender. Hadn’t he always thought that? Even now, everyone here was using every bit of their knowledge to support Dida, despite desperately wanting Iris to quickly evacuate and go to the royal capital for her safety.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, you!” he called to the woman. “I’m sorry. Please take care of these guys. But if you ever feel like you’re in danger, hightail it out of here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She flashed him a confident grin. Her smile was so much like Iris’s that he couldn’t help but murmur to himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You remind me of my mistress.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really?! I want to be just like Lady Iris!” The woman heard him even though he said it quietly. Her eyes sparkled at the compliment. “The only reason I was able to study medicine is because of Lady Iris, after all. That’s why I can help out here. I love and respect her so much for giving me these opportunities. I admire her for trying to better the duchy. I hope that I can contribute to society just like she does.” The woman smiled softly. Her eyes, her aura, her entire body overflowed with emotion. “Ah, I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn. If you’ll excuse me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the next moment, that face was replaced with a focused expression as she rushed off toward the medics.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida couldn’t help but smile as he watched her go. That woman really does remind me of her. “All right…” He gave himself a rough smack on the cheek. The panic was gone from his eyes. “Hurry up and change up the front line as fast as possible! And you, let’s get you organized!” he yelled toward the volunteers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-what?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I need the ones who are good with their hands to make something like this.” Dida drew a simple diagram in the dirt.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They all gave him skeptical looks. “I mean, sure, we could make it, but…can you really use that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure we can! It’ll change our lives for the better,” Dida responded with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-oh, okay. Hey, hurry up and gather some timber! You guys, get some tools! You over there, gather up rocks!” The men didn’t question Dida any further but hurried to carry out his orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Later, as night fell, the enemy’s troops retired for the night and returned to their camp.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dida! Time to eat.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Dida heard reports from each company’s captain, he ordered them to rest and sat at his desk to study a map. Pebbles were spread across the map, along with various things scrawled here and there, traces of his attempts to design various strategies before he scrapped them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll just put your food here, Dida. Please eat it before it gets cold.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do meal rations really get cold…?” Dida muttered, then lifted his gaze to see a plate of hot food. The garrison had only hardtack and preserved canned food, which had come into popular use after Iris sponsored innovations in preserving surplus food. Since it was fast and easy to prepare, the soldiers had been eating those for several days now. “Who in the world made this? That’s an awful lot of food.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The women’s volunteer corps.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh…what about the ingredients? Did you pay them back?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They said there was no need. They’re sure that if we use up their reserves, Lady Iris will take care of it later, and that as long as we have her, she’ll never let anyone go hungry. They think the most important thing is that we build up our strength to fight off the enemy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that is true.” Dida picked up the plate and set it in front of him, then began to eat. “Ahh, that hits the spot! If only I had some alcohol, it’d be perfect.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t get greedy now,” the soldier who’d brought him the food said with an amused laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maybe I’ll ask Princess…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Er, Dida, I don’t think that’s a good idea…” The soldier was visibly flustered now, prompting a hearty laugh from Dida.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m joking. Seriously, though, I hope the relief troops come soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. We’ll only be able to last a few more days, at this rate,” the soldier said offhandedly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The enemy is having a real ball. We just need to pray they continue to let down their guard.” That didn’t mean Dida had given up. He was trying not to let the anger within him show.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What makes you think the enemy is having a good time?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Think about it: they’ve got a huge advantage when it comes to combat. Instead of sending little squads here and there, they could attack all at once and get it over with, but they’re not.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s because you’re forcing them to use the narrow roads, Captain…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Idiot. Even with that, they’re barely attacking. They’re watching us thinking we’re struggling in vain and enjoying every minute of it. Either that, or they want to hold on to as many troops as they can in order to attack the capital.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, the enemy was underestimating them. It infuriated Dida. His eyes were full of fire, determined to draw the enemy out, tan their hides, and make it so they never set foot in Armelia again. But it wasn’t going to be easy to overcome their combat disadvantages.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, Dida, the thing you requested from the volunteer corps is ready.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Whoa, really?!” Dida shoveled down the last mouthful, then ran outside. A long wooden barricade, several thick cords of rope, and a huge pile of rocks were laid out for him. “Hey! You did a great job pulling this together in such a short time! Thanks a lot.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The villagers all wore proud expressions. “Don’t mention it. All we want is to help!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, are you sure about this? After this point, I won’t be able to guarantee your safety. Of course we’re going to protect the city as best we can, but who knows what’ll happen. There could be stray arrows. Besides, you never know where the enemy will come from if they invade.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, but this is our town.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida looked even more confused when he saw how stoutly they stood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This town is our pride. It’s precious to us. It’s become an even better place since Lady Iris became governor. We can’t imagine leaving it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When those people posing as the Boltik family started causing problems, Lady Iris came here herself to fix things! That’s how much she loves our town! If she sent you here to protect it, how could we ever face her again if we ran away?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We believe that as long as we have her, we’ll be fine. We just have to trust her. Right now the most important thing is to protect our home, right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida smiled. Once, long ago, he’d lived in this town as well. Several years had passed since then. Iris had become the governor of the duchy, and this town had changed a great deal since, from the way it looked to the way things were run. Maybe that wasn’t all. Maybe the people’s way of thinking had changed too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah? You know that Princess isn’t the governor though, right? She’s the acting governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Really?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, so one day she won’t be the governor anymore?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida’s quip seemed to leave the volunteers anxious and upset. He had to laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They really do love her, he thought. “All right… Sorry, but can I ask you guys to help again? I want you to put the big shields at the front line. Pass out the rocks to each company.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What about the rope?” one of the volunteers asked with curiosity.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The rope goes with the rocks. We’re gonna hurl ’em at the enemy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Go on and get to it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, sir!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, and does anyone live over there and there?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few of the men stepped forward. “We live in those buildings, yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay. I’ve got a favor to ask you, then.” Dida spoke to them in a low voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“S-sure, but…” They looked bewildered but agreed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dida smiled at them. “Thanks. They might get damaged, but I’ll send word to Princess and have her pay for repairs.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He watched the work for a while, then returned to his seat.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How are they going to fight?” the soldier from before asked Dida as he looked at the scene.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re gonna tease ’em. A lot,” Dida answered plainly. As he spoke, his unabashed will to fight was so intensely visible that the soldier backed up a little.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, Dida called upon the captains of each company. “I have the wooden shields the volunteers made set up in their positions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-all right, sir. What are we going to do with those shields?” Doubt lingered on some faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just leave ’em there for now. First, don’t let the enemy come close.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it’s about maintaining our line?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. I want one company each on the top floors of this house and this house. From there, archers will fire as many arrows as they can.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ohh, I see.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The houses Dida indicated were ones near the port. They were three-story buildings with several windows facing the water.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re not knights. Having to act all proper and follow chivalrous conduct is for chumps. We protect the things that need to be protected, and that’s good enough. Right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No one answered Dida aloud, but their hearts were filled with resolve.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is that kind of plan. We need to avoid direct combat for as long as we can until the reserves get here, so we’ll focus on chipping away at the enemy’s capabilities.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, sir!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once the sun rose, the enemy made their move. Just as they had during previous days, they split into several different groups and tried to invade the town. But Dida’s troops were lying in wait on the top floor of those buildings. They attacked. Arrows flew, mercilessly pursuing the enemy soldiers.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Archers?! Where are the enemies?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-over there!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Up there! Use your shields!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy raised their shields and kept trying to advance, but then they were attacked from behind with hurled stones. The enemy soldiers couldn’t withstand the barrage of both arrows and rocks. Several of them were bowled over. At the same time, archers at ground level shot toward the enemies whose shields were aimed upward. It didn’t take long for their lines to fall between the arrows coming from two different directions and the rocks from a third.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good job. Keep it up. See to it that no one reaches the front.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, sir.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Dida received reports from each captain, he ran through their situations in his head. Each time his plan required adjustment, he relayed those orders to his men.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At long last, the news he had been waiting for arrived. “Excuse me, sir! Reinforcements have arrived!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Along with the news came his partner, Lyle. “Sorry we took so long.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No kidding. Although you did show up sooner than I thought you would,” Dida smiled at the sight of him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry. So what’s going on? Things look pretty interesting out there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida sent someone to fetch the map, then showed it to Lyle. “We’ve blocked off the main roads from the port to the town here, here, and here. You saw the rest. We were focusing on protecting the city while chipping away at the enemy’s capabilities.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An aggressive defense. How are things by city hall?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I could only spare the bare minimum to hold that line. We didn’t have enough men.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That makes sense. Not ideal, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know. If they make a move, we’ll be attacked on both sides. They haven’t shown any signs of mobilizing yet, but if they do…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you want me to divide the men I brought and try to regain control over there?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. Honestly, that would make me too nervous. The enemy is still sending out their vanguard to survey the situation… They’re pretending to face off with us, but really they know the situation and are just acting cocky and taunting us. If they seriously mobilize, it won’t take long for them to penetrate our defenses.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, so it hasn’t actually started yet. Looks like your harassment is working, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yep.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Regardless, you’re still sandwiched.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Lyle frowned, a third voice interrupted their conversation. “Can you let me take care of the town hall?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A guard tried to stop the newcomer, but the man quickly shook him off.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dida was stunned to see Glaus stride in. “Glaus! What changed your mind?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He didn’t have to ask how he’d come into their camp—Glaus was the boss of the Boltik family, the gang that held immense power and influence in Eastern Armelia. They knew this land better than anyone, so it would be easy for him to find a way into any camp. Even if he didn’t, his authority would’ve allowed him to talk his way in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want to put an end to the guys who use the Boltik family name, once and for all. Seems what we did last time wasn’t enough, so we need to show ’em what happens when you soil our name.” Glaus shrugged matter-of-factly. Then he scratched his cheek as he spoke with an embarrassed gesture. “And anyway, I really owe your mistress for what she did for me before. Thought I’d go ahead and repay her before my debts snowball even more.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure? We don’t think the guys occupying town hall are your average thugs. We think they’re the vanguard of the Acacian Royal Army,” Lyle warned him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, well, we’ve got our own way of fighting. You guys, don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on protecting the city. Real war’s too much responsibility for us, you know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Both Lyle and Dida stared at Glaus. He didn’t try to avoid their piercing gazes but instead responded with a confident grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Honestly, we could use the help. Can we count on you?” Lyle finally replied.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve got all the help you need, as long as our goals are the same,” Glaus said in a lighthearted tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. Go ahead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Got it. You take care of our town, you hear?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yep.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that decided, Glaus promptly left. Lyle and Dida turned their focus back to the map and formulated a plan going forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After much discussion, they came to a conclusion and Dida confirmed the details. “Is that good?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes.” Lyle nodded firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The pair left to carry out their promise to Glaus. They were going to protect the brave citizens who stood behind them. Most of all, they were going to protect their mistress’s ideals. They put one foot in front of the other, their fighting spirits quietly burning inside of them.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve heard reports that we’re running low on medicine in the east. Bring everything we have out of the reserves and gather more from the merchants!”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Things were extremely busy in the capital of Armelia, with my days packed to the brim. I had a responsibility to carry out: to protect the citizens to the east. At the same time, I was responsible for sending Lyle, Dida, and the rest of our forces off to war. Yet I had no means to fight directly to protect them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, there were things only I could do, and I had to do everything in my power to carry out those duties. If I were honest, I was so restless I wished I could rush to the battlefield. I was the one in charge and giving orders, so how was it fair that I was safe? Moreover, if I were there, I could get information faster and get things done more quickly!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the same time, since I was in charge, no one could afford to lose me. If I went to the front line in person, I’d have to take people away from the battle to guard me, which would make even more work for those on the battlefield. I knew that. I still couldn’t help feeling anxious. The situation changed by the minute, and each development had to be dealt with. I didn’t even have time to lose myself in my sympathy as I saw the numbers of wounded come in.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stared at the documents in my hand. A map of Armelia was spread out across my desk with tactical figures on it. “Have there been any developments since our forces were deployed?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had left Lyle and Dida in charge of all decisions on the battlefield. We didn’t have a means of instant communication like a telephone, so I’d decided not to intervene because any suggestions I had would be delayed and thus complicate matters even more. Of course I was getting reports on the situation at regular intervals. Despite that, while they were handling the details in the east, I knew they wanted me looking at the overall picture to properly mobilize people and supplies.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d left only the bare minimum of Armelia’s forces in every territory except the one to the north and sent everyone else to the east.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, my lady. We’ve maintained the garrison in the north remain per your orders, and the forces ordered to deploy from both the west and the south will arrive in the east within a few days.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I believed in Lyle and Dida’s strength. At the same time, I had to consider the possibility that they might have to retreat, and where to go from there. How would the enemy try to invade? If they sent in another wave of troops, how would we deal with that? How would we evacuate the citizens? How could I best deploy our forces? I had to consider all of it and put those thoughts in order.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s fine. What about evacuating the citizens? How has that progressed since the last report? Do we have enough food in the locations they’re being evacuated to?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I sent off orders to various officials as I heard each report. They would get in touch with the necessary people, then rush to carry out my orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady. There has been no progress in the evacuation since the last report.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Is there some kind of problem?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, er…” The official who had come to give me the report trailed off. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what in the world could be going on. Finally, he continued with a stern look. “The remaining citizens are saying things like ‘This is our town, and we want to protect it’ and ‘We can’t just sit around and do nothing. We want to help Lady Iris.’ The young men are running errands and transporting goods, while the women are cooking for the armed forces.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was stunned by this news. “You…must be joking,” I blurted out in a louder voice than I’d anticipated. Even though this was no time to be moved by emotion, my heart trembled with joy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s the truth!” I could see now that the official’s mouth was trembling as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now I understood; he had trailed off before because he was trying to suppress his emotions, just as I was. I had a feeling he was thinking the same thing too. Citizens should be protected; they have neither the means nor the power to deal with abuse of authority or violence. The recent natural disaster was a prime example of that. When the floodwaters rose, they were powerless and had been forced to run away…to my domain. I didn’t blame them for it; it had merely been the best option at their disposal. They needed protection because they were too weak to do anything else.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yet the people who lived in this town had decided to fight. They didn’t give up and run away. They weren’t submissive or obedient. They chose to fight, because that town and this duchy were important to them. They were validating the path that we had chosen to lead them down thus far. That decision and the feelings that went along with it shook me to my core.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady.” Tanya appeared, breaking the silence. “May I give you a report?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes.” My chest felt like it was on fire, and I was still speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She whispered the news in my ear so that the others wouldn’t hear. “This report is from Dida. He says that the Boltik family is cooperating to retake city hall.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Glaus said he wanted to take care of the people who were giving the Boltiks a bad name and that he owed you for your prior favors. Now I wonder which one is the real reason and which one is the excuse to cover it up,” Tanya said with a grin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was already shocked, and now I’d received another jolt to the heart. I thought of Glaus, whom I’d met before. I almost wanted to laugh, thinking how utterly characteristic this was of him. He looked like a severe man, but when you talked to him, you soon found that he had a warm, friendly disposition, like an older brother. He was like that because he loved his town, and the people who lived there loved him. I’d thought we would never cross paths again, yet here he was, crossing the line of battle for me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several more reports came in after Tanya. Each one moved my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me. About the medicine, the merchant guild says they will provide the necessary aid. Here is their official response.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We just received word that volunteer doctors from the medical guild have mobilized and are on their way to the east. They’re requesting that we be ready to receive them and provide a place for them to work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The job of a governor is one to take pride in. They protect the citizens, care for them, and enrich their lives. They must feel a deep sense of belonging with their domain in order to oversee their people.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was reminded of words I’d spoken in front of my officials once. Throughout this entire journey, I’d continuously asked myself if I was making the wrong choice, if I had made a mistake, or whether these changes were really necessary. I had to convince myself that I wasn’t mistaken and that these innovations were necessary, because there were no universal answers, and I had no choice but to keep going forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But now, the people…my people were giving me answers. Each and every one of them, even though I’d never met the majority. It moved me to tears, and I had to do everything in my power to keep them from overflowing. This was no time to be lost in my feelings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Make preparations to receive the doctors at once! They’re going to need more than the medical tent they have now to do their work; give me a list of locations that would be good candidates for their base of operations. I want multiple officials sent to the east with bodyguards right away! Give me a list of volunteers as well. Make a rotating schedule for the volunteers on site to follow so no one person is overexerting themselves.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I fired off a series of orders after receiving the latest reports.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The people have spoken. So we must do everything in our power to protect Armelia and its citizens!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Every official in the room responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes, my lady!” in perfect unison.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm, I see. So that’s how Lyle and Dida have organized the troops…” Merellis grinned at Shrey’s report. “That means they’ll probably attack tomorrow. We’ll be with them.”",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several men gulped.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How are we going to attack, specifically?” one asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“First, we’re going to aim for the head, so to speak,” she said, still smiling.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those who understood what she meant were thrown off by her lighthearted tone and casual attitude.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The head?” one of them blurted out to confirm.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That only made Merellis smile more. Everyone in the room got goosebumps. Her smile was absolutely bewitching, but their chills weren’t because of her beauty. It was because they felt like they had just opened Pandora’s box.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. The enemy’s general. They’ve come from a faraway land. If we cut off the head, they will be most disoriented. That will make it easier for Lyle and Dida to attack, don’t you think?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see…” Shrey, who knew her better than anyone else there, murmured. “How, specifically, will we do it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fortunately, all the roads leading to the port are occupied by Armelian soldiers. So first, we’ll split this company into four groups and quickly pass them by. We need to strike before the enemies on either side attack. I want you to get past the Armelian forces at full speed, just like how we came here. Then I want you to assemble behind me and follow. I will clear the path for you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Captain!” they answered in sharp voices, trembling with excitement.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want you and your company here. And you and your company here…” Merellis pointed to different locations on a map, giving out orders without hesitation. Her soldiers nodded at her straightforward commands. “Are there any questions? If not, get to work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At her signal, they all rushed to carry out her orders.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about you, Shrey?” she asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a message for you from Master Pax.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Merellis gave him a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Captain…since you have your social standing to think about, he asked me to give you this before battle.” Shrey handed her a mask that would conceal the upper half of her face. It was made of black material but fitted perfectly to the shape of her face, so it wouldn’t fall off easily.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I swear, he always manages to think of everything.” Merellis took it from him and put it on and took it off several times to test it out. At first, she thought it would be a hindrance, but it didn’t obstruct her vision at all. “Why didn’t he just give it to me directly, though?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We left almost as soon as you arrived at House Anderson. He gave it to me beforehand, predicting you would leave abruptly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see…” Merellis smiled wryly. It was true that things had been hectic before they departed. She’d needed to win the favor of the troops right away so that they could arrive in Armelia as soon as possible. Those thoughts had run through her head while she spoke with Pax, fueling her anxiety. Even if he had brought the mask up, she probably hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to listen to him. “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re welcome. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Shrey had successfully delivered his message, and he excused himself.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Merellis watched him go, she reached for the sword at her hip and took it out. Then she brought it to her forehead, just as she had back at home. Her eyes filled with resolve and readiness. She turned her gaze toward the ocean and gazed at it for a while.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis spent the night with a healthy case of nerves, then rose the next morning. She was on horseback riding with her men behind her before the sun rose, wearing the mask that Shrey had delivered to her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The time has come! Let us claim victory!” she shouted as she charged, her soldiers following behind her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Whoa!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-what’s going on?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the way, Armelian soldiers were shocked by their sudden appearance. While they were confused, they made way for these new soldiers for their own safety.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as they passed the Armelian troops, Merellis unsheathed her sword and charged headfirst into a group of nearby enemy soldiers, cutting through them in a frenzy. It happened so suddenly that they could barely respond. She used this to her advantage and mercilessly penetrated their defenses. The scene was total chaos, but gradually the enemy started to grasp what had happened.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Surround her!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t let her through!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Enemy soldiers circled Merellis, trying to kill her, but they were swiftly taken care of by her men. Shrey met up with them, watching as if in a trance as she cut through the enemies with ease. It was like Merellis was in her own little world. They were in the same space, but she moved at an entirely different pace, defeating the enemies one by one just as swiftly as she had raced toward Armelia. It was like she didn’t even see the enemies as obstacles in her path.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shrey had to laugh at the overwhelming difference in martial prowess between her and her enemies, as well as at her display of sheer power. It felt like he was watching a re-enactment of a heroic legend from a book of fairy tales.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Blood flew everywhere. The raw crimson scene almost looked like it existed to color her. She was so fierce and beautiful. The men riding behind her were consumed and inspired by the sight. It made their blood sing, so much that they could hardly stand it. Their primal instincts called on them to sharpen their fangs and to use them to tear through the throats of their enemies—to not lag behind their captain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think as soon as they see how you fight, all their nerves will disappear.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shrey had been right to say it. It didn’t matter whether a soldier was a rookie or a veteran, they were one unit, awestruck by the sight of their captain’s prowess in battle, proud to call her their leader. As the battle wore on, more and more soldiers were injured. But no one stopped. It was almost as if they were drunk on the moment—they forgot their pain and continued following their captain.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Keep going! Don’t lag behind the captain! Tighten your ranks and protect each other!” Shrey howled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was answered by a hearty cry of “Yes, sir!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even the enemy soldiers were overwhelmed at the sight of Merellis’s fighting and her command of the men at her heels. Some tried to move, but it was almost like they were glued to the spot. One enemy soldier murmured, “It’s almost like they’re being commanded by a demon…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis and her soldiers were a fearsome sight indeed.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She rode past the soldiers to an open section of the battleground. A luxurious carpet was spread there, looking quite out of place, and on top of it was an even more luxurious chair. It was clear that this space was meant for someone of high social standing. When Merellis appeared before it, covered in blood, those waiting upon it let out a scream. She did not react. She calmly strode to the center of the open ground, mercilessly cutting down anyone who stood in her way, until she stood before the man who sat upon the luxurious chair.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was plump, and he didn’t move a muscle as she approached. To be more accurate, he couldn’t move a muscle. She was such a fearsome sight, he felt as if he had been visited by the Goddess of Death, ready to deliver that titular fate with a single strike of her sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the next moment, a sword flew between the man and Merellis. She showed no sign of surprise. “You’re late,” she murmured.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, this wasn’t directed toward the enemy who sat before her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was speaking to Lyle, whose blade was aimed at the enemy general. Behind him were the Armelian forces he’d brought, who’d been waiting in the direction opposite of the ones she’d charged past.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re just too fast,” he said. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it in time.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But it was easy, wasn’t it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it was. Coming at the enemy from two different directions truly confused them. I can’t believe you knew which direction I’d be coming from, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had a hunch, once I saw where your troops were positioned. There were fewer men in that direction compared to the way I came.” Merellis had anticipated Lyle’s actions and moved to provide him with backup. She had timed her charge perfectly with his, but coming from the opposite direction in order to further confuse the enemy. “I knew you would come. I was going to take his head whether you did or not, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ultimately, the Armelian forces under the leadership of Dida and Lyle had the power of command. Merellis knew it was best if they were the ones to make the most important moves, since they were in Armelia’s territory. Even so, if Lyle had arrived late, she would have had no qualms about ending things herself. It wasn’t because she had some greater ambitions but merely that she thought it best to put an end to the situation as soon as possible. Once the enemy’s reserve troops showed up, Armelia would be at even more of a disadvantage. If that happened, neither her strength nor that of House Anderson’s guards would matter; making up for that disparity would be incredibly difficult.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“At any rate, it’s time to question him.” Lyle’s gaze grew sharp as he looked at the man who appeared to be the enemy’s general. That simple look made the man let out a shriek. “Who are you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man’s eyes darted left and right. No one came to his aid, because anyone who was capable of doing so had already been cut down by Merellis or Lyle. Those remaining shifted their gazes anxiously to avoid eye contact. After all, Lyle had his sword pointed at the man and was essentially holding him hostage—what could they possibly do?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle pressed his blade against the man’s neck. A line of crimson appeared and dripped down his skin.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s asking you who you are and where you came from,” Merellis translated into Acacian. “Answer truthfully.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-you know Acacian?!” the man responded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A little. So? Who are you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m the first prince of Acacia, Jalaal Bent Acacia!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? You’re the first prince?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle could only hear her interpretation, but strangely he guessed what she had just said. Neither of them could hide their bewilderment. “Surely that’s not true,” he said. “Shouldn’t the first prince have far more guards? Moreover, who in their right mind would send a first prince to war?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve never even heard of a kingdom sending their first prince to another kingdom with the vanguard!” Merellis said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Lyle thought, I’ve never heard of the wife of a duke leading the vanguard and charging into battle either. But he shifted his attention back to the moment at hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you have any idea what will happen to you if you hurt me?” The man calling himself the first prince had completely changed his tune from that first terrified shriek. He smirked at them confidently.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you invade?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“His Majesty made a deal with the kingdom of Tweil. After the war, the kingdom of Acacia will take over Armelia and its surrounding territories, and Tweil will get the rest. I was sent with the vanguard as proof of our commitment.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle frowned. He’d had a hunch that was it. His mistress had feared this very arrangement all along, and now it was reality. His head hurt just thinking about what was to come.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” Merellis responded plainly by his side. Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if she’d heard everything she needed to and that was that. “Lyle, regardless of whether it’s the truth, this man is definitely a member of the royal family. We must wait to have his head, but we’ll take him with us for now. We might be able to use him as leverage in negotiations.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle acted swiftly. He brandished his sword and sliced through the tendons in the man’s foot, prompting him to let out a blood-curdling scream. “Don’t tell me you really thought you were going to get away unscathed after everything you’ve done?” he asked as he glared. “You need to feel a little of the pain you’ve caused.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Merellis watched with amusement and looked down at the man, who was shedding tears and moaning with pain. “You heard him. Don’t worry, we won’t kill you. You should be grateful for that royal status of yours. Now you’re going to help us out.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle stuffed a piece of cloth into the man’s mouth and tied him up, then threw him over his shoulder. “I doubt he’ll try to kill himself, but we’ll leave him tied up, just in case.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True. Who cares if he does, though? He’s annoying,” Merellis responded casually.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did you know he’s a member of the royal family, though?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The ring on his right middle finger. In Acacia, every member of the royal family is given a symbol, and they have their symbols carved into rings. I remember seeing this one before, although I never expected to see it on the battlefield.” Just as Merellis said, the man wore a golden ring on his middle finger. There was no gem set in the center but instead the carving of a bull.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm, I see. May I take him home with me, Lady Mer?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course. I’ll provide backup. To be honest, I still haven’t gotten my fill of battle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lyle chuckled until a grave look came over his face. “Clear everyone from this place! Now that we have their master, the enemy will be a disorderly mob!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They were in possession of the first prince and had dealt another severe blow to the already confused enemy. Lyle led the Armelian force as they steadily cut down the remaining enemy troops, one by one. They did so with ruthless efficiency.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Behind him, Merellis led House Anderson’s guard and took out all who remained, leaving carnage in their wake. In fact, Merellis fought so fiercely that the Armelian soldiers had to wonder if she had been holding back when she’d charged through the enemy lines earlier. Blood splattered everywhere; she seemed determined to do one thing and one thing only—destroy the enemy.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since she had so inspired the Anderson guard, they fought with all their might. As a result, the majority of the enemy troops barely put up a fight before they were laid out on the ground. Of course, the fact that their leader had been captured was a large factor in that. Furthermore, Dida entered the fray.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thanks to all of those factors, the war within Armelia’s borders was soon over.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was sitting in front of a mountain of documents on my desk, praying. I had to raise funds, then use those funds to procure the goods needed in each territory, send the goods there, and send people to distribute the goods. It sounded simple enough seeing it all written down, but in order to accomplish all of those things, I had to look at the duchy as a whole and consider all possible problems that could arise, then formulate a plan to deal with those hypothetical problems. That meant that everyone, including the Armelian officials and myself, were up to our eyeballs in work. No one uttered a single complaint. We knew that our work made it easier for our allies to do what they needed to do. Most of all, though, the people of Armelia were also doing everything they could to help us fight. There was no way any of us were going to complain.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Truthfully, I think we were all too worried to get any rest in the first place. We worried over the safety of those fighting on the front line, the lives of the citizens who had stayed behind to help, and the state of the work itself. The more I thought about it, the more my thoughts turned toward the negative. My worries were endless, and anxiety ruled my mind.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But I couldn’t drown in it. I had vowed that to myself, yet the road ahead was dark and intensely frightening. If I let my guard down, I would be swept up in those negative thoughts and be lost to them. I was trying to think rationally about everything I could do in each of those situations to cope with these fears, but my heart just wouldn’t keep up. The weight of being responsible for so many lives during these dark times made it difficult to keep moving forward.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t help but think how easy it would be to squeeze my eyes shut, cover my ears, and curl up into a little ball on the floor. Every time I considered that, I thought back to everything I’d gone through to get here. It hadn’t been easy. It hadn’t been all good times. I’d stumbled, worried, cried, been angry. All of that made the happy times even brighter. If I gave up here, everything I’d been through would be a waste.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So as I sat at my desk, from time to time, I looked up to the ceiling and prayed. I prayed for everyone’s safety, and for peace to return to the kingdom. Honestly, I wasn’t sure who I was praying to. All I knew was that I had to.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me, my lady!” Tanya burst into the room, which was quite unusual for her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it, Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re here! They crushed the Royal Acacian Army! They’ve also captured a large number of prisoners of war, including the first prince of Acacia. Also, the Boltik family successfully recaptured city hall!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, my mind went completely blank. I was so relieved that I thought I might collapse.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady!” Tanya rushed forward to support me. The feeling of her warmth and the shock to my body told me that I wasn’t dreaming. I let out all the air in my lungs, and my vision blurred.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so glad! I’m so, so glad!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know… I know… You worked so hard, my lady.” Tanya’s soft smile made my vision blur even further.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Tanya.” I placed my hands on my desk and stood. “I am grateful beyond words for you, who stuck by my side, and for the people of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya smiled, pleased.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I must secure a place to keep the prisoners. I need to decide how to deal with them.” I instantly started thinking of everything I needed to do.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady, please at least take the day off.” Tanya had a troubled expression.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t be ridiculous, Tanya! We must get everything ready so that when they come home—when the heroes of Armelia come home—we can share this happiness with them. And so we can mourn the lives that were sacrificed for our cause.” Those were my honest feelings, and once I explained them to her, she nodded with a smile and relented.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I made the necessary preparations over the next few days as we waited for them to come home. Once the Armelian officials heard about the victory against the Acacian army and that we had recaptured city hall, the atmosphere in the mansion became much less tense.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, Tasmeria was still at war with Tweil. Although the mood wasn’t as somber as before, the officials remained nervous as the days ticked by. I felt the same way. I wasn’t sure what to do if Tasmeria lost the war. If they did, I was certain that Acacia would strike again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How is the war going, Tanya?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His Highness is commanding troops in the former Lord Monroe’s domain. The people’s distrust toward Tasmeria is strong, so word is that the battle is grueling.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I froze. “I had no idea, Tanya.” I couldn’t conceal the anger in my voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry. I thought that as you needed to prioritize the fight against Acacia in the east, I should keep it to myself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. I’m sorry too. Even if you had told me then, I probably wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to truly hear you. But Tanya, I want to know about what’s going on in the north no matter how busy I get.” I felt bad for growing emotional. It seemed I still had a long way to go, if I was reacting this strongly to any mention of “His Highness.” “The battle is grueling, is it? I suppose that’s only to be expected—it’s war, after all. Such things aren’t ever simple.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. Not only do the people in Monroe’s domain sympathize with Tweil, but if we fight a losing battle against them, it will only exacerbate their distrust.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t believe the prince had headed to battle. I wondered if he was safe. I prayed that he would be safe. It was frustrating to not know his circumstances because he was so far away. My heart was filled with a restless anxiety. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to help him. These were the screams coming from deep inside my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My common sense reined in those desires. I forced my thoughts to another matter in order to silence the voice completely. “Do you have any reports from your agents on the ground in Acacia?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Apparently, the citizens of Acacia were not informed of the attack on Armelia. There has been no other significant action on the part of the Royal Acacian Army either.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. What in the world is their king thinking?” The more I thought, the angrier I became. Even though the king hadn’t asked for my hand in marriage, his son had, so how dare they attack us? He’d offered his right hand for a friendly handshake while stabbing me in the back with his left. “Nevertheless, I’m glad their army hasn’t made a move.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After all, there was no way the duchy could endure a sustained attack levied by an entire kingdom. We didn’t have the people, supplies, or anything else for that matter. That wasn’t just the case for Armelia but for all of Tasmeria as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed,” Tanya agreed with a pained expression.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about the investigation into affairs within the royal family?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The king has many wives, as well as five concubines, so there are six princes and ten princesses. The prince who proposed to you is the third prince, Khadir. The king is elderly, so a battle to assume the position of rightful heir has been ongoing behind the scenes. However, there are rumors that Khadir has no interest in government, as he’s made no move to claim the throne. The second prince is sickly and of weak constitution, so he has voluntarily ceded his right to inherit. Even so, people say that although Khadir is the third prince, he’s the least likely to become king.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems that the battle for succession rages in every kingdom,” I said sarcastically. “He’s the least likely to become king, hm? Honestly, I don’t think that’s true at all.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you think that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s just the impression I got from our meeting.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it’s a gut feeling, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not quite. When he came to Armelia, he came as a representative of his kingdom. So putting those two things together…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tanya’s face lit up with understanding as she realized what I was getting at. Being an emissary for your kingdom meant you were presenting yourself as the face of that kingdom. Someone who didn’t care about their kingdom wouldn’t do that, because doing so meant bearing the responsibility of protecting the kingdom’s honor; one misstep and you could profoundly damage its reputation. Considering Khadir was the third prince, he certainly could have traveled with a delegation group and had someone attend to the representative duties in his place, but he hadn’t.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not interested in the government? Hasn’t made a move to claim the throne? That’s just how it seems to everyone else. The public opinion. If he’s acting as an emissary and involved in the government in similar ways, then he must have a very powerful pawn on his side. Someone who will do everything in their power to help him and to make sure that whatever he’s plotting behind the scenes doesn’t become public knowledge.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out an inward chuckle, thinking that it certainly sounded like someone else I knew. The third prince was only refraining from making a move on the surface, while steadily gaining ground behind the scenes. The person this reminded me of was my own mother.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir sounded like he was doing the same thing. He didn’t want to draw too much attention, so he was keeping his sharp fangs hidden. “So, I think there’s a good chance that he is reaching for the crown.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, my line of thought fell off track. In that case, wouldn’t there be very little advantage in marrying me? Wouldn’t it benefit him more to marry someone from a powerful family in his own kingdom, who could help him gain more ground? If we had children, then someone with Tasmerian blood would inherit the crown. Surely the powerful people in Acacia would object. Or perhaps he just wanted me as a wife in name only, and he would have an heir by another wife. I got that far before I let out a sigh and realized it was pointless to try to figure it all out.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s keep a close eye on him going forward,” I said.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Sebastian entered. “My lady, Lyle and Dida have returned from the east.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank goodness! I know they must be exhausted, but could you ask them to come in and brief me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They were already planning to, after they finished giving final commands to the troops.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. All right, then. Thank you, Sebastian.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time after that, there was another knock at the door. I told them to come inside and watched as Lyle, Dida, and my mother entered the room.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mother?!” I was so surprised to see her I practically yelled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s so good to see you again, Iris.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Luckily no one else was here to witness my little outburst. “What are you doing here?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At last I put it all together. My mother had left with House Anderson’s guard more than a week ago. I hadn’t heard one thing about what happened on that front. I had been so busy with everything else that I hadn’t had time to even think.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, Mother, don’t tell me you went along with House Anderson’s guard to the east?!” I was well aware of how crazy it sounded. Then I remembered what she’d said before. She had told me that if there was any trouble, to make sure to call on her at once.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t ‘go along’ with them, exactly. I led them there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So that is what happened! I thought, bewildered. After all, who could have predicted that my mother would have gone to the battlefield herself? “A-are you hurt? I mean, how did you—why did you…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lyle and Tanya were laughing. I had no idea what was so funny.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Princess, your mother is incredibly skilled with a sword,” Dida said. “She’s far stronger than any of us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?!” What in the world was he thinking, making jokes like that?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pains me to admit it, but he’s right,” Lyle went ahead and agreed. “She’s also a top-notch commander.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mind went completely blank for a moment.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s something I learned when I was young,” my mother said with a little smile. “Don’t you remember what I told you before, Iris? I wanted to be a soldier, so I asked my father to train alongside his men. I have a little experience on the battlefield.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was the final nail in the coffin. What in the world did she mean by this “little experience”?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mind was a confused mess, one question rising after another. As I stared at my mother’s smile, I realized none of it really mattered, and I gradually regained my composure. “I see. I want to thank you and the House Anderson guard from the bottom of my heart for your efforts in protecting the people of Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris, you don’t need to thank me. After all, I’m a member of House Armelia too. But I’ll go ahead and relay the message to House Anderson.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.” I bowed my head once again to my mother, then turned toward Lyle and Dida. “I’m so grateful to you and the rest of the troops who traveled to the east. And I’m so, so relieved that you came home safely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Of course I’d heard the news that they had claimed victory and were safe. But seeing them in front of me filled me with emotion once again, and my eyes blurred with tears.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m so glad I have you. I can’t thank you enough for supporting me.” Even though there were many more things I wanted to tell them, I just couldn’t find the words. It was frustrating to be unable to express my feelings.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We don’t deserve such praise,” Lyle said with a soft smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your words are reward enough, Princess,” Dida said in an easy voice, making me laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you… There are so many things I want to ask you, but first I’d like to hear your reports.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They told me the number of enemy prisoners they’d captured and how many of their comrades had been wounded. Although I’d known this beforehand thanks to an express message on horseback, I found myself wondering if the facilities and supplies I’d prepared would be sufficient.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Another thing, my lady, is that we captured their leader on the ground.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And he’s the first prince of Acacia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mother’s words sent a shock wave through my heart.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? They sent the first prince to the front line?” Honestly, my first reaction was sheer disbelief. Of course I had no reason not to trust my mother, but I had a hard time accepting it because it defied all operative norms. Why would a kingdom send a member of the royal family to fight in the vanguard when invading another kingdom, let alone the first prince? As I questioned this logic out loud, an idea popped into my head. “Ohh. What if…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My mother noticed my reaction. “Do you have some insight?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes… Yes, I do.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tell me, Iris. I think it’s in our best interests to discuss our opinions on the matter and work together.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right. Well, the one that proposed to me was Khadir, the third prince. Right now, there’s a battle for succession behind the scenes in Acacia, just as there was here. So I have to imagine the first prince is also fighting for his right to the throne.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You certainly seem knowledgeable about Acacia! So?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, the second prince is sickly and weak, so he’s voluntarily ceded his rights to the crown. In other words, if ‘something’ happens to the first prince, the throne is Khadir’s for the taking.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady… Do you think that Khadir plotted the attack against us?” Tanya asked, but I shook my head.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know. Who conspired with Tweil to attack us, the current king or Khadir? I’m not sure. There is one thing I’m certain of, and it’s that Khadir intended for this war to end his own battle for succession so that he could swiftly claim the throne for himself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to the first prince, the current king was the one who made arrangements with Tweil,” my mother replied.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well then, we might have a chance to negotiate with them, if Khadir does try to steal the crown himself.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But my lady, if he asked for your hand in marriage, then he must want this land for himself,” said Tanya. “If so, should he become the next king, he could attack us again but with the entire Acacian Royal Army at his command.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m not sure about the current king, but if I were in Prince Khadir’s position, I wouldn’t need Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why is that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because regardless of whether Tasmeria or Tweil wins, it would be extraordinarily difficult for him to control Armelia. It isn’t connected to Acacia by land, and it would be surrounded by another kingdom on all sides. Perhaps he’s made some secret deal with Tweil, but that will eventually fall apart due to geographic factors. Think about it. You must cross the sea to reach Acacia. If another kingdom attacked Armelia, they would be unable to respond immediately, and the costs to ship soldiers and supplies would be astronomical. Overall, they would have very little to gain from the arrangement. I think it would be far more beneficial to let us remain a foreign kingdom and keep us as a good trade partner.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Whether or not that’s crossed Khadir’s mind, I think you’re right, Iris. Unfortunately, they chose to join forces with Tweil this time. We don’t know Khadir’s thoughts, but if he really is using this situation in a bid to become king, then we might be able to negotiate, if he thinks our cooperation would yield an advantage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well. At any rate, I think that the House Anderson guard and I should remain in Armelia for the time being. The wounded soldiers need to recuperate, and we can keep an eye on the situation until they do. If anything happens, I will mobilize my forces, so don’t hesitate to let me know.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded to this suggestion. To be honest, it was highly reassuring to have her with me. “Tanya, get things in order so we can question the first prince.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The news that Armelia had successfully defeated the Royal Acacian Army spread like wildfire and reached the capital in no time.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, at least that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about anymore. Right, Berne?” Leticia stole a glance at him as he walked down the hallway behind her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, certainly. However, there’s no guarantee that they won’t try to attack again, so we can’t let down our guard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true. The war with Tweil is yet undecided on the front, so it would be difficult to spare more soldiers or supplies for Armelia. If a second wave comes, it will be up to Armelia to stave them off. It’s a shame, but that’s the reality of our situation.” Leticia let out a heavy sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne’s expression tightened. “Are things really that bad?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. The supply situation in particular is most dire. Fortunately, we were able to avoid catastrophe thanks to the supplies my brother arranged for distribution to each territory, but we have barely any surplus. War is incredibly expensive and leads to likewise incredible consumption. Even if we could spare the soldiers, under no circumstances could we provide the supplies and money required to fight a war on two fronts.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now it was Berne’s turn to let out a heavy sigh. Although he was a member of House Armelia, at the same time, he was beholden to the kingdom’s government. Even if his family was in a bind, he wasn’t in a position to go to them. Moreover, his job wouldn’t allow him to prioritize Armelia over any other domain. It would set a terrible precedent for those of other houses. He had been trying to discern a means by which to assist them in the kingdom while still staying within the bounds of the law, but reality was unforgiving.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“On the other hand, Armelia is truly amazing. Not only did they keep up with my brother’s selfish demands in the midst of a natural disaster, but they continued to support people who went to Armelia to settle there. Now they’ve overcome this predicament too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. This is why I so admire my sister and the people she surrounds herself with.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Absolutely… I’m not sure how the people of Armelia feel, but speaking from the kingdom’s point of view regarding supplies and manpower, I hope they resolve everything quickly. I’m considering searching for something she could use as common ground in her negotiations with Acacia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure my sister wants things resolved as soon as possible too. She’s using an intermediary to set up just such a discussion.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Goodness. Well, I suppose I should expect nothing less from Iris. Rudy, what do you think?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudius said, “I’m concerned about how she intends to engage Acacia, who she’ll send to do the negotiations, and whether she will be able to successfully negotiate a cease-fire.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The typical protocol in the past has been to assemble a team of officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Law and send them to negotiate,” said Berne. “As for the content of the negotiations, since we don’t know much about the state of Acacia’s internal affairs, it would be necessary to start there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That will be difficult,” said Rudius. “Their kingdom is aware of the natural disaster that occurred here and also that we’re at war with Tweil. She should have a certain amount of knowledge of the kingdom’s internal affairs, so I think there’s an extremely high chance that she’ll find a foothold there.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm, I suppose you’re right,” Leticia piped up in their grave conversation. “Just so both of you know, I intended to let Armelia handle this matter entirely by themselves all along. Of course, I’ll confer with or notify my brother before I write any manner of official letters.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne couldn’t hide his surprise. “But this is an international decision. How can a duke’s family handle that alone? I’m sure there will be backlash from other houses as well…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius also objected. “If she’s going to sit down and negotiate with Acacia, wouldn’t it be important for her to do so in the kingdom’s name? Moreover, don’t you think they’d need an experienced spy to acquire the information they need in order to have leverage during the negotiations?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t think someone as capable as Iris has someone like that? First of all, she’s already met someone from the Acacian royal family, and he proposed to her. I think she can use that connection to gain the advantage. Second, Armelia makes a great deal of money trading with Acacia. Therefore, I believe Acacia will deal with them like they’d deal with any kingdom. Third, Milo told me for a fact that Iris has a personal spy, and according to him, a very capable one. I have a feeling that she has already ordered them to gather all the intelligence they can on Acacian internal affairs. She might even have ordered that before the attack, right after that prince proposed. So, she’ll be able to negotiate much sooner acting on that information rather than waiting for aid from our corner.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fourth, and this is the most important point, what do you imagine would happen if the kingdom acted at this late stage? Armelia has already come this far on their own, so why would we charge onto the scene with barely any preparation, with a subpar understanding of the situation? We’d complicate the matter further. Besides, I have a feeling that House Armelia—and likely the Armelian people—would object. As such, I believe that the quickest way to solve this predicament will be to leave Armelia to deal with it on their own.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two men listened silently as Leticia rattled off her reasoning, and they both began to lean toward acceptance.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As for other houses pushing back… What could they even say at this point? Armelia is extremely wealthy, has talented people working for it, and has the military strength to fight off another kingdom’s army, even if it was just the vanguard.” Leticia let out a sigh. “I understand that you two are blood-related to House Armelia, but since I trust you, I can tell you this: In truth, the royal family is wary of the power Armelia has amassed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Both men jolted slightly with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“House Armelia has always enjoyed a great deal of power among the nobility, even since the queen dowager—Grandmother—was in power. The royal family was wary of them at that time as well. Simultaneously, House Armelia has always been the picture of how a noble family ought to conduct themselves. They understood the true responsibility of the aristocracy, and they’ve served the kingdom in many ways. That was why the royal family has always turned a blind eye to their duchy.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps it’s difficult to answer this question since it’s coming from me, but I’d like to ask it anyway. Are you thinking of taking measures to reduce Armelia’s power?” Berne asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia smiled at him wryly. “Of course not. The opposite, actually. Armelia has become too big. That’s why we need to decide what accommodations we can make for them so they don’t decide to secede.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Neither Berne nor Rudius were expecting that answer, and they both looked quite surprised.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Armelia has already suffered a great deal because of the policies my brother and Ellia put forth. Instead of being a protected arm of the kingdom, they were treated like an enemy and forced to surrender valuable supplies. Honestly, if I were Iris, I’d regard Tasmeria as nothing but a thorn in my side. With Armelia’s wealth, societal foundations, and future possibilities, they could without a doubt amass the power to defeat the kingdom. We need Armelia, but without us, why, they’d thrive. This is the balance of power as it stands. The problem is that a number of nobles don’t yet understand that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your Highness… I swear that House Armelia has no intention of revolting against the kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know, Berne. I recognize your and Lord Armelia’s distinguished service. It’s clear that the two of you have worked to give all you have to this kingdom. That’s why I have no doubts about House Armelia. I’m speaking purely from the standpoint of the power structure.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne and Rudius were speechless.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If we push them with the kingdom’s demands and constraints and the relationship breaks down, the kingdom will lose a guaranteed source of income from taxes, as well as valuable territory. It would be absurd to try to take away Armelia’s power. If we did, the Armelian citizens would surely revolt. I understand that it’s a double-edged sword, but Armelia has better laws, taxes, and standards of living than the other domains, and perhaps even the capital. It would be lovely if we could implement those same things in the capital, but I think it would be difficult to bring about that reality. So, instead of making things worse for the people in Armelia, I think it would be wiser for the kingdom to give them more discretionary powers—to an extent.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time, neither of the men raised an objection.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, we’re almost there,” said Leticia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why are we going to the tower, anyway?” Rudius asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia answered him with a grin. “To see one of the endings to this story. Either it will all work out for the victors, or someone will slip up and it’ll be necessary to course correct so things don’t get off track.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rudius and Berne looked confused.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rudy, the reason my brother asked you to stay behind was because this is such an important job. Are you ready for it?” Leticia asked with a quiet smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was an unfathomable intensity in that smile. As she said, under normal circumstances, Rudius would have accompanied Alfred to battle as his closest bodyguard and advisor, yet Alfred had ordered him to stay in the capital. No matter how Rudy had pleaded to go with him, Alfred would not relent.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ll understand when the time comes. I trust you more than anyone, and that’s why I’ve asked you to stay,” Alfred had told him before he left.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve been ready. I don’t carry this sword as a decoration, but with the resolve to use it when necessary.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. Berne, you must never speak a word to anyone about what you are about to see. Do you understand?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Highness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia led the way to a certain room. It seemed to be an ordinary room, with bookshelves lining one wall. “There are many secret passageways in the royal castle. This is one of them. It’s necessary that I bring you two with me today, which is why I’m showing it to you. You must never tell another soul.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They nodded.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Satisfied, Leticia pulled out one of the books from a shelf, then pushed a hidden button behind it. Suddenly, the bookcase swung out like a door. “Let’s go.” She entered the secret room and began walking down the dark staircase. “The royal family has a long past with many dark secrets. They used these hidden rooms and passageways to conceal their actions and go where others couldn’t. That’s where we’re headed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They came to the end of the stairway, and she led them down a hallway farther into the darkness. At the end of the short corridor was another set of stairs, which led up.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s a large stone—the third one from the right. Push it upward.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When they reached the top of the stairs, they came to what appeared to be a dead end. Rudius switched places with Leticia and pushed the stone upward according to her instructions. Suddenly, a light shone from above.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius went through the door and found himself in a small room made of stone with a thick door and a narrow, spiral staircase.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re almost there. We just need to go up a little more.” Leticia led the way again and began to climb the stairs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait… Are we inside the tower?” Berne asked in a sober tone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. This tower is where nobles are imprisoned when convicted of criminal behavior. I have no idea why there’s another door besides the entrance considering what it’s used for, but that is neither here nor there. Regardless, as I said before, this was created for the royal family to carry out their business away from prying eyes,” Leticia said with a wry smile. She looked a bit fatigued from climbing all the stairs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, they arrived at the top of the spiral staircase to a small room. Leticia signaled Rudius to remove a stone from the wall. He The three of them huddled together and peered through the opening.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other side of the wall was a room surrounded by iron bars. Inside the room, looking very glum indeed, was Yuri Neuer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Princess, Leticia, that’s—” Berne blurted out, unable to contain his shock.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia silenced him with a firm “Shh!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The trio silently observed the room for a while. Then there was a sudden noise, a rush of footsteps. Who should appear next but Prince Edward, who was supposedly locked up in another cell.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yuri! I came to save you!” he said with all the love in his heart as he approached the cell.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri stared absently at him. “How did you get here?” she asked in a flat voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This person freed me! Just you wait, I’m going to get you out of there!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A man dressed in fine clothes waited behind Edward. Berne and Rudius’s eyes widened when they saw him, because they recognized him at once.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man belonged to the second prince’s faction, but since he had not been directly involved in the counterfeit gold coin conspiracy, he had received the relatively light punishment of forfeiture of his title of head of house and house arrest. Behind him stood two knights who were supposed to be guarding the entrance to the tower.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Stop.” Yuri looked down coldly at Edward, who was crouching over to open the jail cell. He opened the door and looked up at her in surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s wrong, Yuri? There’s nothing to fear. After we escape from this place, this fellow and other like-minded folk will give us safe harbor. We’ll lay low for a while, and when the time is right, I shall take my place as the next king.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Edward’s cheerful tone of voice did nothing to brighten the dark look on Yuri’s face.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Instead, she snorted with laughter, exasperated. “Don’t you understand? He has no intention of helping me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know it’s hard to believe, Yuri. First, let’s get you out of there and…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I leave this place, I’ll be killed. By him and his cronies.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yuri, that’s not true! They’re here to help us! Come on, let’s just go. Please trust me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They need you, because they can use you. Their only chance at regaining their power is to put you on a pedestal. I’m different. I’m nothing but a threat. They’re afraid that I’ll tell everyone of their connections to Tweil. Even if you were able to take the throne, a child of mine wouldn’t be able to succeed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yuri, that doesn’t make any sense. Even if, by some slim possibility, there was a chance that they saw you as a threat, why would they put themselves in danger to save you?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because this is their only chance. They want to rid themselves of their fear that someone will spill their secrets to Alfred, and they want to do it before you can succeed the throne. Don’t you think their best chance to do so is when you’re relying on them to hide us?” Yuri spoke confidently and with a cold sneer. “Not to mention, there’s no need for someone from this hopeless kingdom to save me. Its days are numbered. Well, in any case there are other knights out there to save me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One of the men standing behind Edward laughed out loud. “Did you hear that, Prince Edward? I really wanted to help save your beloved fiancée, but as I suspected, she’s allied with Tweil. She is unworthy of Your Highness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not true! She’s just suffering the mental pressure of having been locked up here. Yuri, remember what I promised you? That I’d protect you from anyone, no matter what.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri didn’t answer. She only stared stonily at him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your Highness! You’ve been deceived. You finally had a chance to take the throne, but this woman interfered and ruined it all. Please, let this show you the truth!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One of the knights drew his sword and lunged toward Yuri. The other knight held Edward back so that he wouldn’t try to protect her. Yuri merely stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stop it!” Edward yelled, wrenching free from the knight at the last moment. He threw himself between Yuri and the sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It happened in an instant. The sword ran Edward through with a dull, sickening squish. The room went completely silent, as if time had stopped. As soon as the knight realized what he’d done, his face twisted with horror, and he dropped the sword with trembling hands. It fell to the floor with a clatter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Edward collapsed to the ground, covered in crimson. He looked at the blood pouring from his body in shock, then up at Yuri and smiled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yuri…” He reached toward her, still trying to be by her side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, the light returned to Yuri’s vacant eyes. “Why… Why did you protect me?!” she screamed. “I’m nothing but a burden to you! Why didn’t you try to get rid of me like them? Isn’t that what a noble is supposed to do? So why?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Edward coughed up blood as he answered, still smiling. “Because…I promised you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had stayed true to his word and protected Yuri with his life. If he had never come to her cell with those knights, this never would have happened. Yet…he was the only one who had ever truly tried to protect her. Despite everything that had led to this moment, his love shook her to the core.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No one ever helped Yuri. No one ever tried to protect her. Her mother had mourned the love she lost, hated her position in life, and ignored her daughter. Her father should have loved her mother, yet he’d easily abandoned her. Then he’d tried to use his own daughter.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Edward…he was the only one who had never abandoned her. He was the only one who had ever tried to save her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So why? It was a foolish question. He had told her many times that he loved her. That he wanted to spend his life with her. That he would always protect her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But every time he had told her those things, she’d laughed coldly on the inside, thinking, Please, I know he’ll abandon me the second it’s convenient for him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was wrong. Edward really had risked his life to save her. The moment she realized that, a sweet, warm feeling spread inside of her. “Stupid… You’re so stupid,” she said with a laugh. Simultaneously, big, fat tears streamed down her face. She crouched and took his hand.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re…right,” Edward whispered with labored breathing. Yet he smiled happily. Then…all of his strength was gone.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, so stupid…” Yuri whispered as she squeezed his hand tightly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was when Leticia made her move. The two knights and the older man with the fine clothes who stood before them were startled when they saw her suddenly emerge from the stone wall, where there was no door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hello, Yuri Neuer,” Leticia said, completely ignoring the men.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri barely reacted. She just kept holding Edward’s hand, not even looking at Leticia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A wry smile crossed Leticia’s lips, and she turned toward the three men who had come with Edward. “Even though he was imprisoned, Edward is still a member of the royal family. No crime is more severe than endangering the life of a royal. Don’t tell me you really think you can get away with this?” She grinned, an expression quite unbefitting of the situation.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The color drained from the men’s faces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I was just doing what I was told!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So was I!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two knights tried to run. But Rudius was standing there, blocking their paths.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Move!” They drew their swords at him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rudius quietly drew his own sword. “Your Highness?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was all he said, yet Leticia seemed to know exactly what he meant and nodded with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.” Rudius took a step forward toward the men. He butchered them with a single stroke of his sword.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was over in an instant, almost as if he were trying to show the overwhelming disparity in their power. Leticia watched the scene without a flinch. Berne went slightly pale, but that was all. Yuri seemed completely unconcerned.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The one who reacted most was the man who had accompanied Edward. He was visibly shaken and slumped to the ground. “Wh-why are you…?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? I went public after you were put on house arrest… You know who I am, don’t you?” Leticia giggled like a mischievous child. “Sorry, did you want to know why I’m here? Well, that’s because I knew you were coming today.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!” The man was shocked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew what you were up to a long time ago. I just decided not to do anything about it. Yet.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you knew this was going to happen?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I had no idea my brother was going to shield Yuri, no. Although that would’ve saved me a lot of effort. Rudy, seize this man and take him away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t worry about guarding me. We’re the only ones here. Once he’s in a cell, you can come back for me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Your Highness.” Rudius pulled the man to his feet and took him out of the tower.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The only ones remaining were the betrayed Edward; Yuri, still by his side; Berne, who looked utterly bewildered; and an expressionless Leticia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Before…” Yuri spoke in a quiet voice. “Before, you said it would’ve saved you a lot of effort. Don’t tell me you were planning on killing Ed all along?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? I thought you didn’t care about him. That he was nothing but a pawn to you?” Leticia retorted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri flinched and her face twisted. “Just answer me!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Regardless of whether I gave the order, he would’ve been sentenced to death eventually. But, hmm…yes… I was planning on blaming the knights for his death and getting rid of him right here and now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Both Yuri and Berne looked shocked by Leticia’s cruel confession.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But why?!” Yuri cried. “He’s your brother!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve never seen him nor talked to him before today, but yes. He is my brother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So then why?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because it was necessary,” Leticia replied calmly as Yuri screamed at her. “If I let him live, he would keep causing trouble. More people would rear their heads, like that man, and try to give him safe harbor. This kingdom doesn’t have the capacity to endure another internal struggle. Yuri, didn’t you want this kingdom to be destroyed? How much blood would you have spilled to accomplish your goals?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m nothing like you! You sacrificed your own flesh and blood!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true. However, I’m a member of this kingdom’s royal family. I’ll do whatever is necessary to protect this kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yuri stared at her.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that moment, Rudius arrived with several knights behind him. “I have returned, Your Highness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness, that was quick.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I brought the guards with me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. I want you to return Yuri to her cell and take my brother away.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Princess.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Berne, Rudy, I’ll be leaving now. Have a nice day, Yuri.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yuri screamed something. Leticia had already turned her back and walked away, Berne and Rudius following after her. The tower was filled with the sound of their footsteps descending the stairs.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a while, none of them spoke. Finally, Berne said with a sound of resolve in his voice, “Your Highness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it, Berne?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you set this all up with Prince Alfred because you knew this was going to happen?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes and no.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Berne gave her a puzzled look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My brother wanted to bring their deeds to light. He was going to deal with them once he came home. All he wanted was for them to be arrested. I was the one who wanted them to be punished. I also wanted to eliminate as many risks to my brother as possible.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Leticia smiled bitterly. “You’re asking me why too? Are you afraid of me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They came to the bottom of the stairs and exited the tower through the main door. It was bright and sunny outside, almost blindingly so compared to the dark, dreary atmosphere within. That did nothing to lighten the men’s moods.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I simply want to know why you made a decision that made you clench your hand so hard you would bleed.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, Leticia stopped and looked down at her hand in surprise, as if she hadn’t even noticed. Just as Berne had pointed out, blood dripped from her palm. Startled, Rudius tore a piece of cloth from his sash and wrapped her hand to stop the bleeding.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why would you put yourself through so much pain on purpose?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia said nothing for a while under Berne’s piercing gaze. Then she opened her mouth, her lips trembling, and spoke with self-deprecation. “I’m not allowed to be in pain.” Her words echoed around them. “I acted upon the decision I made. I take all responsibility. Being in pain is turning my eyes away from the burdens I must bear.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yet you still chose that? And you’ll continue to choose it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I can’t afford to stay still. I have to keep moving forward, even if the path is rocky. But…” Leticia paused for a moment. “If I could choose, I would wish for this to be the last time that I felt like the situation was inevitable and I had no other choice. I don’t regret it, though.” Then she smiled sadly. “Rudy, give my other brother a proper burial.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure, Your Highness?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. There’s no reason to hide it. We can use that man’s testimony to let it be known that he died. I’m just asking for my own satisfaction.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. If you had given him a harsher punishment, the people would have feared you, so I think this is for the best. It might be cowardly of me, but I’m relieved that that is your order.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Go ahead and see to it, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once Leticia reached her room, Rudius left to carry out her orders. She sat in her chair, exhausted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can I bring you something?” Berne asked with concern.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing for now.” Leticia shook her head and heaved a sigh. “I’m going to ask you a question that might be hard for you to answer. If you don’t want to answer it, you can just say so. What did you think when he died?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment, Berne looked startled, as if taken completely off guard. “A number of thoughts ran through my head… We spent a long time together, although looking back on it now, it seems relatively short.” He paused, then offered his honest opinion. “Before, you said that this was inevitable, and that you wanted it to be the last time you felt that way. I could say the exact same thing. I find myself wondering if I could’ve done something different to change this, so that none of this would have happened.” He smiled self-effacingly. “Edward and I were on two different paths. But not because I chose to be. I was just lucky. My family and those around me showed me the wider world. Otherwise, I might’ve ended up just like him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I pity him, and I regret his fate. However, I won’t allow myself to give up. In order to accept my good fortune, I won’t look away from the mistakes of my past. The only thing I can do is devote myself wholeheartedly to serving our kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia closed her eyes as she intently listened. “Then let me ask you again: Can’t you walk the same path as I do?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And I will answer once again. I will, for as long as you continue down a path that serves our kingdom.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leticia smiled faintly. “Yes. Well then. Let’s get back to work.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "(2) chapter number given is likely out of range: 0",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter: 11",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Chapter 26: The Duke’s Daughter Settles Things",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Chapter 26:The Duke’s Daughter Settles Things",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“ED’S DEAD…?” I blurted out, shell-shocked. Ed had lost the war for succession, and I’d assumed he would be executed eventually, but I couldn’t hide my surprise at the sudden news. For a moment, memories I’d shared with him flashed through my mind. I wondered why, since any positive feeling I’d had toward him had long since been replaced with hatred and contempt. “Why, after all this, am I remembering the good times we shared?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merida smiled gently at my self-deprecating wonder. “Most likely because people are more inclined to think charitably of the dead.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was out on the terrace, having taken a break from work. Well, to put it more accurately, Sebastian had practically dragged me away from my desk and forced me to take a break. Merida came up shortly after to give me a new dessert she’d just developed, and that was when Tanya delivered the news.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even if the person was someone you absolutely despised, it’s difficult to feel hatred for them when they die. You start to",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "remember the good instead of focusing on the reasons you disliked them. It’s the best way for those left behind to cope.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merida’s words rang true in my confused heart. “Hm… I suppose you’re right.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was a simple fact that at one time, I had loved Edward, so much so that I barely saw the world around me. That was also why I hated him so much. He was the reason I’d felt so empty when everything had slipped from my grasp. I hadn’t wanted to care about him anymore. While the memory hurt, I wrapped myself up in my own business so thoroughly that I didn’t have time to dwell. By the time I had the presence of mind to really look at the world around me again, Edward was nothing more than a nuisance to me. I viewed him as an enemy, a threat who kept attacking me unprovoked. I was angry, but at the same time, I no longer cared about him as a person. I even pitied him at times.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had indeed considered him an enemy, but the reason I didn’t care about him as a person wasn’t because my past hatred had faded—it was because he had looked like nothing but a puppet being pulled in all directions.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was all ancient history. Perhaps Merida was right, that it was natural to want to look fondly on the past. Those emotions were no longer fresh, and all that remained was a feeling of nostalgia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My lady, I have another announcement, if I may.” Tanya’s hesitant voice pulled me from my reverie.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-yes, I’m sorry. Go on.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have received a letter from Princess Leticia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, really?” I took the letter and quickly read it. She had neat, beautiful handwriting. I remembered when I met her by coincidence that day in town. She looked so much like Alfred, with those brilliant peridot-colored eyes and gorgeous golden hair. She was beautiful in the sunlight and reminded me of the perfect fairy tale princess. But the contents of the letter were harshly realistic, contrasting greatly with that mental image. I frowned as I continued reading.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is something the matter?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She says they’re leaving the matter with Acacia completely in my hands.” Both Merida and Tanya looked shocked. I couldn’t blame them. This was far too significant an issue for an acting governor to deal with alone. It was an international incident, after all. “That means she already reached a consensus with the other governors and established it as the kingdom’s policy. I’d heard that Princess Leticia was involved in the government as Prince Alfred’s assistant, but this goes beyond something an assistant could accomplish. She’s completely taken over his duties.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That must mean she’s highly capable, or the other governors wouldn’t obey her.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right. It seems she really has a great deal of control over the nobles…and the government.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps that’s for the best? Khadir is the one we’re engaging, so no one is more qualified to negotiate with him than you, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You think too highly of me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After we defeated the Royal Acacian Army’s vanguard, Tanya had reported that the Acacian king had suddenly passed away and Khadir was running the government in his place. I’d expected this was his plan, it had just happened a bit quicker than I was anticipating. The official announcement from Acacia was that the king had died suddenly from an illness. It wasn’t a coincidence that it happened with such impeccable timing, because in fact, Khadir had waited until the first prince was captured to kill the king. I had to laugh to myself. Truly there was discord in every kingdom. Our cultures and traditions differed, but at the root, people were all the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I shall do my best for Armelia, now that the matter has been left in my hands.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re so steadfast, my lady. Are you sure it’s only for the duchy?” Merida asked with an amused smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. Everything I do is for the good of Armelia. Not the kingdom. And it seems the kingdom—well, Princess Leticia, at least—understands that.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Everything I do for Armelia benefits the kingdom in a roundabout way. In her letter, she told me to do as I pleased for that very reason.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? So they’re recognizing your power, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who knows? Isn’t my power Armelia itself?” It sounded very much like Leticia was saying “We’ll give you the freedom to do as you please, so long as you don’t start entertaining any truly strange notions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, at any rate, has everything been arranged for my meeting with Prince Khadir?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you. Let me know if anything else comes up.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Speaking of news…how is the battle going with Tweil?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“After Prince Alfred reached the battlefield, there was a dramatic change, especially with the people in the former Lord Monroe’s domain.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Have they realigned with Tasmeria, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. They were impressed with a number of things, including the prince’s speeches, his ability to supply goods and resources, and his elaborate strategies against the Tweil army. All of that combined perfectly to touch the people’s hearts and make them understand the necessity of the war.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a glowing review.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m only repeating what my agents on the ground are telling me. In fact, their reports extol him to the point that I wondered for a moment if they had double-crossed me and gone to work for him, what with all those positive remarks!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness! Ha ha ha. Of course they’re still loyal to you, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. The war has just turned in our favor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. So not only is he a gifted politician, but he’s a genius tactician too? Now I’m curious about just what kind of speeches he gave!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry, but I didn’t ask about the particulars.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s all right, I was just curious. But, hm… I hope this means we’ll claim victory over Tweil soon.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Certainly.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, thank you, Tanya.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re most welcome.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, another servant called for Tanya, and she excused herself. Now that that was settled, I turned to Merida’s dessert. “Ooh, these are delicious.” A gentle, sweet flavor spread throughout my mouth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad you like it. I was thinking about sending these to the troops who fought on the front line and the volunteers in the east.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I kept the costs down and came up with a recipe that won’t spoil right away. People can live with the bare necessities, but that doesn’t always mean a good quality of life. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to treat yourself sometimes, so you can have something to look forward to the next day.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re right. So you came up with this?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I came up with the recipe by myself, but Sei and I worked together on the concept.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I like it. I want you to use money from the Azuta Corporation to fund it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m surprised… I didn’t expect you to approve the idea so quickly!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, not only do I think it’s a good idea from the standpoint of my position as acting governor but as a businesswoman too. Sales are stable, so we should be thinking about how we can benefit society as a company. It’ll improve our image, and even if there are no direct profits to be had, I think it’ll end up turning profits for us in the long run.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In the long run… Yes, I think you’re right,” Merida murmured to herself, then gave me a bright smile. It was so contagious that I couldn’t help but smile too.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll let you take care of this matter, Merida. Do whatever you please.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lady.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even though we were talking business, I enjoyed a peaceful afternoon. I had a lot to do, from supporting the casualties’ families, to caring for the injured, to making sure we had enough money and supplies for all of that, but I’d finally gotten most of it taken care of. I used reports from the ministries to sort through plans, make decisions, and give orders. I’d accomplished all that already. Now all there was left to do was enact the plans and make any necessary adjustments based on the results. However, I thought it would be wise to recharge my batteries for a bit before tending to the very serious responsibility of negotiations with Acacia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So while Sebastian had forced me to take this break, in the end I was grateful to him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, Tanya came back into the room looking shaken. “I’m so sorry to interrupt your break, my lady. We just received urgent news.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had a bad feeling about her expression. Had Acacia attacked again? Or perhaps something terrible had befallen our people in the war with Tweil. “Yes? What is it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have secured victory against the kingdom of Tweil.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, my! Well, isn’t that wonderful!” It was the best news I could have received, but for some reason, Tanya didn’t look happy. In fact, she looked downright distraught.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but… But… Dean… Dean has…!” Tanya whispered the words as if she couldn’t bear to say them. The fact that she called him Dean and not Prince Alfred meant she was quite shaken indeed. “Along with the news of our victory…came the news that Dean was killed in battle.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My entire world went dark.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t understand what she had said. Dean was killed… As in, he was dead? Was that what she meant? My brain and heart refused to comprehend. I repeated Tanya’s words over and over in my head. “Tanya, I don’t understand. What happened to Dean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment her face twisted, but she swiftly regained her composure. “He was struck by a stray arrow and died.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you absolutely certain?” My heart pounded violently and painfully inside my chest. I was afraid of her answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. I received the same message from all of my agents, who were stationed in different regions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then my heart broke into a million pieces.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is this some kind of joke? We won! Didn’t you say Tasmeria won?! So then why?!” I lost my senses and rose to my feet, screaming. “Why?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My violent outburst didn’t last long.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wanted Tanya to say it was a lie. I wanted her to say the reports must have been wrong. But I could tell by the look on her face that it was true, because I’d never seen her like this before. Her mouth was trembling, and her eyes were red. That told me it was the undeniable truth. I was overcome by grief, by emptiness. My strength left my body, and I thought I would collapse on the spot. I clung desperately to the edge of the desk, curling over at the waist. The impact sent the documents I had stacked on my desk flying into the air.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My lady!” Tanya started slowly toward me as I froze with shock.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No, don’t come closer. I don’t want to hear another thing. My heart was screaming, and I tried to back away from her. But it was like I was rooted to the spot. I couldn’t move. “I’m sorry… Please…leave me alone.” I forced the words from my mouth.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya and Merida’s expressions crumbled.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No, please don’t make those faces. I’m fine. I wanted to say that, but I just couldn’t.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I silently stood and started walking, determined to return to my room. My vision was hazy. It was so clouded over and warped, I had no idea if I was even going down the right hallway. Everything had lost its color. Even though I saw clearly, I didn’t recognize any of it. I didn’t know up from down. It felt like I was floating. I walked close to the wall, somehow making it back to my room. The instant I opened the door and went inside, I went weak and collapsed on the spot.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean…” I whispered his name as tears flowed from my eyes.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m not sure how long I stayed there. I simply sat on the floor in shock for a long, long time. Before I knew it, the sun was setting outside the window. I’d only meant to stay there for a while.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I should get back to work, I thought. My body wouldn’t move. I tried to stand, but I lacked the energy, so I sank back down.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Come to think of it, the first time I collapsed, the next thing I’d worried about was work. …And Dean had dropped everything to come to my rescue.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey… Come help me again, Dean… Like you did back then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was in the same straits. A glimmer of hope within me whispered that he would suddenly appear out of nowhere like he had before, but my rational mind extinguished the thought. It was the same situation, but Dean wouldn’t come. Tanya had said so. She said Dean was dead. He was hit by a stray arrow and had died. He was dead. He wasn’t in this world any longer, no matter where I searched or how hard I tried to find him. I would neither see nor talk to him ever again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I opened my mouth and let out a wail as if I were releasing all the dark emotions filling my heart. “Waaaaaaaaaahhh!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tears streamed down my face again. No, no, no! I can’t believe he’s gone. I don’t want to believe he’s gone! Because we won! We beat Ed, we beat Tweil! So then why?!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I grabbed fistfuls of my hair and screamed as loud as I could.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I can’t believe I’ll never hear his voice again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I can’t believe I’ll never see his smile again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I can’t believe he’s gone!",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My entire world went black. I felt sadness, grief, pain. Those emotions came in waves, tormenting me. My heart hurt. No matter how much I pulled at my hair, those feelings seemed rooted in the depths of my heart, and there was nothing I could do.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The pocket watch I wore on a chain around my neck swayed. I took it out and caressed it. “They put a lot of thought into this design. I know it may be forward of me, but I dearly want you to keep the other half of it.” I remembered what Dean said when he gave it to me. It was a tender, beautiful memory.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why… Why?!” I was overcome with an immense despair, as if I had lost half of my being. I squeezed my hand over the watch. It was painful, and I didn’t want to accept it. I reached my other hand out in vain, searching for what I’d lost. Of course, there was nothing to grasp. Nothing but empty air. The reality of it just made everything more painful. All I could do was sink in my feelings, and cry, and scream.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, my strength gave out, and I realized I was sitting there, cowering on the floor. As soon as I got up, I started crying again. It wasn’t a dream. When I looked around, everything was still the same.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dean…where are you?” Why had I been reborn into this world, where I had to endure this suffering? Dark thoughts overtook my heart, making me cry that much harder.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next time I lifted my gaze, it was dark outside. Just like my heart. The sky was cloudy, allowing light from neither the stars nor the moon. I wished morning would never come. I hoped tomorrow wouldn’t reach me. Because he wouldn’t be there. I couldn’t bear to go on without him here.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yet despite that grief, I had to go on.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I cried and screamed, then collapsed again.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya. How is Iris?” Merellis asked, but Tanya shook her head. Her expression was still filled with sorrow and pain. “I see…” Merellis had a similar look.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t bear to see her like this, in so much pain…screaming and crying,” said Tanya. “She’s sleeping, but I think it’s because she simply passes out. She’s barely eating… If she keeps this up, she’ll make herself sick.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know… I thought it would be best to leave her be, but I’m frightened to let it go on any longer.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have told her that Dean died. I can’t express how much I regret it.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis shook her head. “No… She would’ve learned eventually. After all, he’s the kingdom’s first prince.” She let out a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I at least should have timed it better. I brought her the news that she lost someone very close to her when she was already exhausted. And now I can’t even comfort her because she’s so distraught…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure that’s terribly painful. I can’t even imagine, and I’ve no idea what to do either. How do you comfort someone who’s lost someone they love?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Love?” Tanya’s eyes widened with surprise.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Merellis looked surprised by this reaction in turn. A sad smile crossed her face. “Goodness, you didn’t realize? Iris was clearly in love with Dean.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really? Ah, yes, I suppose you’re right…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tanya, you need to rest.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya shook her head. “No! How could I possibly rest when Lady Iris is in such a state?!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s exactly why you should rest, Tanya. Who will take care of Iris when she finally recovers her senses if you’ve collapsed from exhaustion as well?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You look like you could crumple on the spot. This is an order. Go rest, now.” Merellis said firmly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, Tanya nodded reluctantly.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The children from the orphanage are here,” Merellis told her in an especially tender voice.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean Mina’s orphanage?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right. I asked them to come back another time due to the present…situation, but they’re worried for Iris too. So many people are waiting for her to recover…including you.” Merellis chuckled softly, finally bringing a smile to Tanya’s face, strained though it was. “When she wakes up, I’ll try talking to her. It’s time she stopped drowning herself in her sadness.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya breathed a sigh of relief.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "How long had I been like this? I had no idea. I felt like I had seen the sun rise and set many times in the corner of my mind. My memory was hazy, and I wasn’t sure if I moved through reality or a dream. Memories of him popped into my head, then disappeared, over and over again. Like when we had gone to the orphanage together, or all the days we worked side by side, or when he had saved me during my excommunication, or when we had traveled to the east together…",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So many memories. So many that we shared. I remembered each and every one, immersing myself, and cried. It felt both like an eternity and a brief moment at the same time. Or perhaps it was the reverse. Either way, we’d spent so much time together. Looking back on it now, I cherished each and every memory.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, my lady. I will protect you from anyone. So please…entrust your body to me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I suddenly remembered those words he’d spoken in east Armelia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You liar. I hate you,” I whispered but immediately regretted it. “I lied. I love you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The words “I love you” were shaky because I was crying. They fell heavy upon my heart. They were why I didn’t care anymore, not about anything. The world carried on around me as if nothing had happened even though I suffered. It was leaving him behind. In the end, were our existences really so trivial? If they were, what was the point of existing? What was the meaning?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought all my tears had dried up, but they sprang forth anew.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, I stood and went out onto the balcony. The place where he and I had talked so often before. We had spoken of our feelings about our families, the future of Armelia, and the past. The view from the balcony of my own room was different from that of my study, but it still held nostalgia. The sun was so bright I had to shield my eyes. It burned them, tender as they were from all the crying.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Iris!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I heard the voices of young children. I chuckled to myself, thinking I had really lost it now, if I was hearing things. Then I realized I really had heard them and squinted toward the garden. There I saw Mina and the children from the orphanage. They were so small in the distance that I couldn’t be sure, but I just knew it was them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What are they doing here? I wondered. “Are they worried about me?” I murmured, but there was no one beside me to answer.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn’t take long to find out, because the children called to me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris! Get better soon!”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, they were soon scolded by Mina, and they stopped yelling. I saw her with her hand on her hips gesturing wildly, and I had to laugh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I…I can still laugh.” I was shocked. I was in so much pain and so sad. I hated Tweil, I cursed this kingdom, I despised everything. Yet I had laughed. A warm feeling resurfaced inside of me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re a cog in the wheel of this kingdom. And so am I. We aren’t meant to collide. Even if we travel down different paths, we’ll continue looking in the same direction. So, knowing that, I can go anywhere and do anything.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I remembered his words to me in the palace gardens.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the same time, I asked myself, Have I really lost everything? Have I? Is my existence really meaningless? Is it really?",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I denied it. All of it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The shell I had erected between me and the world shattered. I didn’t care if my existence was meaningless, because the result of the path I walked down was right here. I had taken care of, protected, and built a future for those children, and the people who lived in the duchy. That had been my goal when I started down this path, and the people of Armelia had believed in me and followed me to this moment. Yet in my darkest hour, I had rejected them.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was true that I had lost someone very dear to me. My heart was yet broken. But I hadn’t lost everything. There was a path I needed to continue following, and the lives of the Armelian people, who had walked with me and supported me, waited there.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excuse me, Iris.” Just as I went back into my room, my mother entered. “Oh my. By the looks of it, you don’t need my help at all!” she said with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’m sorry to have worried you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. You must have truly loved him if you’ve been so very shaken.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, heat rushed to my cheeks. Then I regained my composure. “Yes…I did. I’m a fool, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Whatever do you mean?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because I didn’t realize how much I cared until I lost him.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She listened to me with a serious expression.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We had decided to go our separate ways. That didn’t mean we stopped caring for each other. Even though he walked down a different path, I thought it would be bearable so long as he was still out there somewhere.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t that what love is?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave my mother a confused look.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When you love someone, you continue trusting in them and caring about them even if they don’t walk beside you. You cherish their existence. Right?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I smiled bitterly. “I suppose so. I love him.” I was sad that I hadn’t been able to tell him that. I would probably always regret it. “But there are other things I love too.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now it was my mother’s turn to give me a puzzled look. “What’s that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I love this duchy and the people who live in it. When I was in the darkest days of my grief and had lost myself in it, I thought I didn’t care about anything anymore. I overlooked the things I loved. Now I know that if I lost them too, then I really would be filled with nothing but regret.” They were all so important to me, I couldn’t choose between them. If I lost any of them, my world would be consumed by a void. “More than anything, he wouldn’t want me to turn my back on the people. I want to live my life so that he would be proud of me.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s wonderful,” my mother murmured. “You’re so wonderful, Iris. If you must know the truth, I came to scold you for letting your grief take over and make you turn your back on the things that are yet important to you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A shiver ran down my spine. My mother was so intimidating that even imagining such a scolding made me tremble.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems like that was a needless worry, wasn’t it? You already know. You know what’s important to you, and that you’re important to others as well.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There will be more times in your life when you feel pain and sadness. But don’t forget that even though it’s vital to let yourself grieve, you can’t lose yourself in it. Because you’re still alive.” Mother reached out and gently clasped my hand. “Remember how I told you that I lost my mother to bandits?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded. I could never forget a story like that. She had shared her painful past with me when I was struggling with my own issues. That story had given me the courage to regain my footing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“After that, I was lost in the pain and grief of losing my mother. I couldn’t see a future. The only thing I lived for was training, so that I could get my vengeance on the bandits who killed her. I was obsessed with my grief and utterly forgot what was important. As a result, I worried so many people who were dear to me. My brother lost his temper with me and yelled, ‘Have you forgotten that you’re still alive?!’”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those words were an echo of what my mother had come to tell me just now.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wasn’t alone with my sadness and pain, yet I thought I was the only one in the whole world who felt that way. I was wrong.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mother…”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can’t regain what you’ve lost. So it’s only natural to be sad. But you must not let it hold you prisoner to the point that you despise the world. You can’t turn your back on the present and lose yourself in the past. It won’t bring anyone back. If you keep giving in to your grief, you’ll be consumed by regret. You’ll wish you’d done things differently and learn nothing from the lessons that grief can teach you. Everyone loses someone precious to them eventually. Everyone has to die at some point. It’s an inevitable part of life, that our time with our loved ones is limited. That’s what makes it so special. And that’s why you should make the most out of the time you have with them. Do just as you said—live your life in a way that makes the person you lost proud of you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mother’s words resonated deeply within my heart. “Thank you, Mother.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment I said it, she wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace. “You’ve had such a tough time, Iris. You did the very best you could. And you remembered what is important.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I tensed. My mother’s words and her warmth were so reassuring that I burst into tears.",
"loss": null
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The following day, I returned to work. Tanya tearfully told me how much she had worried about me, and Merida said the same. The other people in the mansion didn’t know the particulars of the situation, so they assumed that I had fallen sick from exhaustion, but they were similarly worried about me. The officials from the various ministries tearfully, but happily, welcomed me back to work. I was both guilty and a little embarrassed as I returned to my regular duties. The wounds on my heart hadn’t healed, and I hadn’t forgotten about Dean, no matter how I buried myself in my work—or perhaps because I buried myself in my work. After all, we had spent so much time in this mansion working together. Buried in our work, dreaming about the future.",
"loss": false
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Every time we came up with a new idea, we were happy for each other. Every time we hit a wall, we helped each other work through it. There were too many memories with him in this mansion for me to get over him there. But what else could I do? There was nothing. I still loved him.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I kept those thoughts in the back of my mind as I tackled the work that had piled up in my absence. The days passed like this, until I had gradually returned to my normal self. That was good, because soon I had a vitally important responsibility to carry out—my meeting with the kingdom of Acacia.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya stood behind me, and beside her, my mother. Even though they were dressed the same as usual, they were both secretly armed. They wanted to be able to act instantly, should the need arise. Since they were by my side, I had tasked Lyle and Dida with guarding the mansion. This was supposed to be a peaceful negotiation, and I thought it would be unwise to have obvious bodyguards by my side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I clenched my hands into fists and murmured to myself. “It’s all right. There’s nothing to worry about. You can do this.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s wrong, Iris?” Mother asked.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave her a tight smile. “Just trying to give myself courage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tanya came up to my side. “My lady, he’s here.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tension filled me. “Welcome, Prince Khadir,” I greeted him with a smile.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir was wearing the formal garments of the Acacian royal family, and he had a soft smile. To be honest, his smile seemed a bit shady, but I suspected he likely thought the same about me.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m overjoyed to meet you.” He took my hand and kissed it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir’s dramatic gesture put a wry smile on my face. “It’s so nice to meet you for the first time, Your Highness,” I said with extra emphasis.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now it was his turn to smile wryly at me. I was subtly telling him that I’d play along with his story, but he had to give a little too. I was sure he didn’t want anyone else knowing that the last time he’d come here, he posed as “Hafiz.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please come in and have a seat, my lord.” I motioned toward a chair, then sat across from him. I studied the prince. He wore a confident smile on his handsome face, and he had a refined aura reserved for nobility. His very presence suggested true royalty.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is a very nice territory. The people are wealthy, and the government is stable.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, thank you.” How absolutely shameless, I thought to myself angrily. Of course I didn’t dare show it. Instead, I lowered my gaze and said sadly, “However, an awfully frightening thing did happen in our duchy recently.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh?” I thought I saw his eyes glint.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. Another kingdom attacked us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My, that is a shame.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, a dreadful shame. I could hardly believe that the kingdom of the man who proposed marriage to me would do such a thing.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, a heavy silence fell over the room. I was testing Khadir, seeing what he would say next.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please allow me to explain,” he said. “I’m afraid the former king secretly conspired with the kingdom of Tweil to attack your territory. It was not my wish to do so.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I let out a sigh. “It wasn’t your wish? Still, it’s an undeniable fact that the kingdom of Acacia invaded. So, how will you take responsibility for that?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir smiled. Here, when I was questioning how he’d take responsibility for war. For a moment, that sent shivers down my spine. “Pardon me. I explained my own personal feelings. I don’t want you to hate me, after all. Regardless of whether it was my wish to attack you, as the king, I need to explain our perspective. This tragedy was the result of reckless behavior on the part of the former king and a select group of people. The kingdom at large had no wish to do injury to your domain.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You may have altered the description, but the meaning is the same.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My, my. That’s rather harsh,” Khadir said with an amused chuckle.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can you blame me? My people, who I hold dear, were attacked.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How intimidating you are.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness. Do I really seem that frightening?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, you aren’t showing it on your face at all, and that’s what makes it frightening. You don’t allow yourself to be swayed by emotions. That’s the most dangerous sort of person to deal with, because they can take hold of a situation in the blink of an eye, if you let down your guard.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I inwardly clicked my tongue. What a difficult man.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now, I have come on behalf of my kingdom bearing an appropriate sum as reparations for the victims who suffered during this disturbance,” he said. “The details are in the documents here. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An elderly man who waited behind the prince stepped forward and reverently handed me a document.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took it and looked it over. “This isn’t nearly enough,” I declared as soon as I read it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh?” Khadir’s eyes sharpened. Suddenly, I felt more tension in the air than I ever had at any other meeting I’d conducted.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course not. You see, we have custody of your kingdom’s first prince, Jalaal. He’s under our protection.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The tension emanating from Khadir grew positively overwhelming. Deep down within, I was sweating like a pig.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You took someone who attacked your domain under your protection?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We took him as a prisoner of war, of course. He attacked us. When you became king, I shared that news with him. I’m not certain whether it was because he’d had a bit of a rough time after his capture or because he finally realized the position he was in, but afterward, he apologized from the bottom of his heart and pledged to rely on us completely.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He merely feared your power.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, no, not at all! Before, you referred to yourself as Acacia’s king. But under what grounds did you become king? The rightful heir is still alive, after all. In my custody.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Khadir’s expression finally changed. “…I suggest you stop right there. I won’t hesitate to mobilize my kingdom against someone who interferes with our government.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Goodness.” I laughed out loud. Khadir was finally showing his true colors, and things were getting interesting. “Now you’re the one who’s frightening! It doesn’t take long for you to threaten someone with force, does it? I suppose that means the things you said before…” I trailed off meaningfully because I knew he would get my point.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That means the things you said before can’t be trusted.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t speak the words out loud, so as not to belabor the point. “I was merely asking a question. Yes, to be honest, I don’t care who’s king of Acacia. It doesn’t matter whether it’s you or the first prince who now feels he owes me a debt on his honor. It doesn’t matter to me what happens to some kingdom across the sea. It would be wonderfully easy for me to immobilize your army before they even have a chance to strike. Because, you see, I’ve already laid the groundwork for such an outcome.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The old man behind Khadir moved slightly. I saw Tanya’s expression tense. My mother still wore her beautiful smile, however. I studied Khadir, wondering how he would respond.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of a sudden, he laughed out loud, invigorated. “You really are frightening.” He lifted a hand, and the old man froze. “How about I ask you this: Are you satisfied with me being king? What is it that you want?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Half again the amount of money specified in this document, plus a treaty of nonaggression against Tasmeria as well as a treaty of commerce.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll agree to the sum. You’ve done your homework.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When we looked into the people who had taken over the harbor in the east, we’d found that they were from families resembling the second prince’s faction in Tasmeria, right down to their ultimate fates. In other words, after their families were identified as having taken part in the attack and their other misdeeds exposed, their assets were seized. Khadir had that money on hand, of course, and he was trying to use those funds to pay me off. Since our agents knew the sum he had confiscated, I instantly recognized that the sum he offered was only about forty percent of the total assets he had acquired. So I guessed that he would easily be able to pay me at least one hundred and fifty percent of that amount. Judging by his reaction, I was correct.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now, as for the treaty of nonaggression and treaty of commerce… Pardon me for asking, but as a territorial governor, do you have the authority to ask for such things on behalf of Tasmeria?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m actually the acting governor.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pardon me. Well? Do you have that authority?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If I do, will you agree to my terms right now?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I have no wish to fight you. I have no objections to the terms, so yes.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, you may look these over to confirm the answer to your question.” I signaled to Tanya, who gave him three documents.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first was an official signed document from Princess Leticia acting on behalf of Dean, stating that she left total authority in my hands regarding negotiations with Acacia. The second and the third were the same, but these were signed documents for both the treaty of nonaggression and treaty of commerce, giving me full authority to enact those as well.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m surprised. You even have the proper paperwork in order.” Khadir chuckled. Despite what he said, he didn’t look very surprised at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course. This is a negotiation with Prince Khadir of Acacia, after all. I didn’t want to run the risk of offending you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha. Well, you got me. But I want you to know that I meant what I said. I’ll read through the treaties, and if I have no objections, then I’ll sign them right here and now.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So, he thoroughly read each and every document and signed them. It seemed he had no objections.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That was quick.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But appropriate. If I had found anything objectionable, I wouldn’t have signed. As I said, you did your homework.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took the signed documents and added my signature. Then I gave a copy of each document to Prince Khadir and handed the other copy to Tanya for our records.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now, I shall have you return Jalaal.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm? Oh, but I haven’t told you the rest of my conditions.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment Khadir stared blankly at me. Then he let out a sigh. “You’re awfully shrewd, aren’t you? Fine, then. What else do you want?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just one more thing. I want you to lower the tariffs between Armelia and Acacia by five percent for these items. Here’s a list.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My, my. You sure are demanding.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Am I? If you agree to lower the tariffs, then we shall also lower the tariffs on these items for Acacia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He closed his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut. For a moment the room was completely silent. No one dared to make a sound so as not to interfere with his thoughts. “Fine. Think of it as part of our reparations,” he finally said with a sigh.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nearly let out a sigh of relief myself, but I managed to hold it in. Tanya handed him two more pieces of paper, and we signed each one. “I think that these agreements will be beneficial for both our kingdoms in the long run.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. But isn’t setting tariffs in this manner also restricting exports?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That wouldn’t necessarily be a problem for Acacia, would it?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose not. You really got me this time. I thought that if I married you, that would remove all export restrictions. I suppose that’s your answer, then?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. Thank you so much for the offer, but I will have to respectfully decline.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I ask why?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First of all, the burden of being a queen is too great for me. I’m sure you understand that more than anyone.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Khadir might have gotten his hands on the throne, but it wasn’t a done deal. He didn’t have a definitive claim like the first prince of our kingdom had, or the base of support. Of course it would be beneficial to the development of his kingdom to take a bride from Armelia, but the thing he needed most was to unite his own kingdom. That was just a guess on my part, based on the information from Tanya’s agents, but it seemed I was right. Of course I didn’t say so out loud; it would interfere with the negotiations.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I do. I do, but even still, I want you. I would do anything to have you.” Khadir gave me a piercing look. I could tell that he meant every word. I didn’t know if it was because he thought he loved me or that I would simply be a convenient woman to have by his side. Either way, he meant it when he said he wanted me. I had a feeling that when he proposed, he had already planned on trying to get the throne. Perhaps he had even envisioned this meeting. Still, the fact that he had officially proposed marriage meant that he truly wanted me. For that reason, I had been afraid to meet him here today.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In any case, due to the agreements that we have signed today, a marriage would no longer provide much benefit to either of our kingdoms. These conditions are all we can spare. Of course, it would be a different story altogether if there was some other kind of benefit to Armelia if I married you.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Khadir gave me a keen grin. I was sure he was wondering just how much harsher I could be. “Very well, then. Now the kingdoms of Acacia and Tasmeria have successfully been joined in a peace treaty.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. And I shall return Prince Jalaal to you. Would you like me to show you to him?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No. Just take him directly to my men who are waiting outside.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Iris. I feel this has been a most personal meeting that has deepened our bonds of friendship. Is that a correct characterization?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it is. Friendship between your kingdom and my domain—and my kingdom—is a very good thing for all of us.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Since this has been a personal meeting, may I ask you a question?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. I can’t guarantee an answer, though.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is the real reason you won’t marry me?” Khadir asked this in such a breezy tone that, for a moment, I was shocked. Honestly, I hadn’t expected him to ask that. It was too difficult for me to speak freely about, so I said nothing.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That made him smile even more. “I just confirmed that this was a personal meeting, no? I promise I won’t be angry, no matter your answer. Think of it as the last request of a man who has a hard time giving up on the woman he hoped to marry.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a terrible question.” I let out a sigh. My mother was still smiling cheerfully by my side.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have to marry someone, don’t you? It’s the same in every kingdom. It’s part of the responsibility of being a noble. It’s expected. Who could possibly be a better match for you than me?”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I won’t deny it. There are very few noblewomen my age who are unmarried. I didn’t turn down your proposal because there was someone more suitable. But one day, I shall leave the Armelia family and go somewhere else to run a business. Oh, or perhaps I shall help at the orphanage.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iris…” my mother said in a concerned voice, but I smiled at her. This was something that I’d been prepared for ever since Ed broke off our engagement and I came home to Armelia. I knew that I most likely wouldn’t be able to marry anyone at all.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The situation had changed a bit, but eventually, I had decided that if I didn’t marry anyone, I would have to leave the family. I wouldn’t become head of House Armelia anyway, so when the time came that Berne married and became governor, I would just be in the way.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Either way, I won’t marry you. You put my people in danger, with the incident before the attack.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m surprised you figured it out.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to smile. It was purely a guess based on the information received from questioning Jalaal and reports gathered by Tanya’s agents. I had no definitive proof. Just a hunch that he’d been the one behind the attack on city hall and the garrison in the east before the military strike in the harbor. His answer confirmed that I was right—he was the one who had ordered it.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How could I marry someone who hurt the people and land I love so dearly? Even if I remain unmarried and I leave House Armelia to become an ordinary woman, just Iris, I will still devote the rest of my life to working for Armelia.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stared at him, and he stared back at me, neither of us saying a word. It was as if we were trying to read each other’s minds.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, I admit defeat. I look forward to continuing a friendly relationship with you as your neighbor,” he said with a sigh and stood.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course. I’m looking forward to doing the same.” I rose to my feet to see him to the door.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll return to my home for now, but just so you know, I’m not giving up on you. I’ll be ready to steal you away the moment you let down your guard.” Khadir took my hand again.",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ooh, how frightening. That’s encouraging to hear. I’ll do my very best to stay right here in Armelia, then.”",
"loss": null
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He gave another wry chuckle, then left the room.",
"loss": null
}
] |
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