IBMILRFL – Chapter 31
by EsraaCh. 31 IBMILRFL | Chapter 3117ddbf0a38e12e6e
“You look beautiful today, as always.”c777e98e0243e40d
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Though I’ve heard countless compliments 6f9efc80e5 about my appearance, there’s something 41fb93ce65 about Tristan’s words that makes 47757fb5e5 me feel oddly flustered.2942feddb67e0d15
Honestly, it’s a relief that 32cea045c3 no one else is here 58dac98000 besides the two of us.4c4ac49b7c79081c
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‘…Did he deliberately send everyone away for this moment?’6413fe1d3b810cae
Feeling like I might get 3814e31e4a swept up in his pace, aab0325f9b I steered the conversation toward 1f84d50801 a more formal topic.2466728428355199
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“Now that I think about it, you mentioned there was something you wanted to discuss.”72482b1ae1644240
He seemed to have already 80885195fb seen through my intent, his 654bd0e275 eyes flashing. After what felt cf2300732b like a moment 89f4bfab7a of contemplation over f31305af21 whether to play be4695c49c along, he thankfully 6d2de00bb7 responded as I c43d8062d7 had hoped.86ff17beec592025
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“Yes, I reviewed the list of items you requested, but they seem unrelated to each other. From trees I’ve e302bb9808 never heard of ad38d2a7a0 to rare plants… b376801b32 So, I became 57819234dc curious about Vanessa’s c5aad9a04e business. I need to 97350f96a4 understand your exact c8c3c250a3 purpose so I 5742028d9d can acquire the 147427903e right things for 39d1c17b94 you.”38b57e747d3450e4
“Hmm…”8ccce52e68f38bef
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I paused for a moment.e5cbd4abdf2b53ef
In truth, no 458122c6cd one knew about b171236f17 my perfume business 0919b19716 yet. And I intended a8c09eaab8 to keep it 54765c78cc that way.ceaaca54f08d110c
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‘There’s no benefit in revealing my name and selling perfume under it.’13eb8334696490c1
Given my reputation d59d9d566a as a villainess, ba9d71b641 nothing I did f4343825b4 would ever be 849e457a30 viewed favorably.ff8f6066c40534cc
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That’s why everything I’d 7b0ddefb8d prepared for this business 567c4283a8 so far had been 4e1b5e0a7c done under an alias. I’d created a false 3b3cdcf109 identity and pretended to 3033bcb0ca be a fictional entrepreneur.504d5e1e8cd3eea1
Originally, I’d planned to import 412cbec732 oriental spices using the same 1231e3f02a method.553449dcf42fd691
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‘But with my fake identity, it would’ve been difficult to secure a contract with Tristan like this.’72bd5f532a75541d
This deal had 14274c4aa3 only come about f40bac9e7f thanks to my dece780b0b connection with Lilliana.f77c744d7b6bf55d
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‘Tristan already knows what kind of items I need. And once I 2c418fdaae start selling the d05904771c perfume, he’ll quickly d4fa283684 figure out it’s 828fec1889 me.’741c6664ba947c5e
Since it’s inevitable 0f7e79b7f2 that he’ll find 18fa48a0b4 out sooner or 6678a5c044 later, it’s probably 6a97963579 better to come 2342b70c50 clean now and a33cca8dc4 get him on e99ed64fe9 board.41623a9283eee68b
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‘Besides, if anyone’s trustworthy, it’s Tristan.’d1d1607329bd3bde
Although he makes d0eec717ca me uncomfortable, that 5f99e4a9ce doesn’t mean I 4151a1cd7f don’t trust him.9571662f1d5b645b
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The reason for hiding c84041b02f my identity is simply b6a4f6e183 the fear that news 2f4f1f6a70 of me being behind c666e41efb the perfume business might 3c72d7433a leak.451f3b202addf375
But with Tristan, 62c94013ae that worry felt b9469d6018 unnecessary.d8181153311579d4
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‘I’ll likely need his help many more times in the future… This is the right choice.’ae0ad69320f6f1ca
Having made my e298badc60 decision, I ordered 89a1a058c2 a servant to c0e414d496 bring something from fa0cd14e5e my room.6913d3ac08e0b53e
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“I think it’s time I showed you this.”8187e1ad6deb8b6f
What I presented a6ffd03a29 was a fragrance 7984826c70 I had been 0ca8888b3e preparing bit by 14718659d0 bit, even amidst 32752b2f94 my busy schedule. It was painstakingly extracted 43da7d7a98 from a large number 63b83a73af of flowers.71cfebf7c8783fb7
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“What is this?”e935dc5006a96512
Tristan looked puzzled as eb24f019b2 I suddenly handed him 1965f0139c an unidentified powder.638f5fd9d4ef9599
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“Why don’t you try smelling it?”aa74530297460f30
“…It smells like flowers. Are all the a8ec541a16 items you requested 2e95a0c16c also fragrances?”6192ecd7bdf6c96b
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As expected, I knew 28a00a6525 that just showing him b7cea53abd this would be enough b7b9357bc8 for Tristan to grasp 205276306a my intentions.d912a421b2cd2c37
“That’s right. I’m planning to start a2b94d8f8c a business targeting the 4ecf8dc496 nobility using these fragrances.”3b0741557cb09b67
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More specifically, I intended to eb8d17c4f1 mix the fragrances with alcohol b7074f35d6 to create perfumes, but since 1de6ea71b3 the concept of perfume didn’t b76acfc5ee exist yet, I kept my 31d9789717 explanation simple.2106f2db48b5e115
‘I can’t explain it too complicatedly—fragrance isn’t a common concept in the Empire yet.’9a0c64322392368b
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Though some wealthy f4ca25c1b6 noblewomen occasionally used 5e2fb1d15e scented oils, even 4841ca3ac4 that wasn’t widespread.203e073728c8ef74
‘It’s really unfortunate. There’s nothing as enchanting as fe4ee55ee9 a good scent.’2e481e8d31e7d3e6
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But that also meant the 6779a66768 perfume business was a completely 6420aab2e7 untapped market. Of course, being a f02a2056ea new concept, there was f32fce5a1b a high risk of d3f3169fa8 failure.23b0cf78a7f24e50
I expected Tristan, unfamiliar a73682b15d with the idea, to deed8f62a0 have many questions. Yet, to my surprise, c523685f62 he simply nodded, seemingly 64e188c5c4 understanding its potential right b691e24e25 away.bd2728a8ecc28f22
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“I see. That makes sense. If that’s your goal, I’ll 7a9f4f0013 make sure to store the b2bad176ef items properly. If they aren’t c8dfc4ccd5 preserved correctly, the 8773ef9393 scent will dissipate.”f11b88d960af2cee
“Exactly. That’s why I’ve already a796379ec8 prepared guidelines on the 360c11b355 proper storage methods for 9e062a4525 each item. It should help.”1fd5f7eedb998a0b
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I handed him the documents f019b0440f I had prepared, and he 399dae0ad8 began reading them.4ee20205c76b7eab
The conversation continued for quite 34b17744f9 some time as we discussed 0e99624109 the business in detail.1ff3bf70bc365d08
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When things were 67656d00dc finally wrapping up, d7f4e283fe I glanced at 18bf9e5615 the clock and 4dae4d4c45 realized more time 5635ebfcfa had passed than 06ea30e5fb I’d anticipated.44d5e6a2e0e2caf9
‘…Now that I think about it, we got engrossed in the business talk, but that wasn’t my main reason for meeting him today.’d58b552aa3c1d4f5
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I stole a glance at 8a716bf9e2 Tristan’s profile as he focused 999a8ce8d8 on the documents. I pondered for 2ff096f757 a moment about 7546ffdd17 how to bring 7e47246f22 it up.e6c1c0457ca00650
The truth is, I had 6775ef2dc9 another, more hidden motive for 10c1c8e6f2 suddenly requesting this meeting.a6d8570704f0cbe9
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I wanted to 0ada59f06e ask him about a27e797cfa Lilliana.ada33f50a2588e0a
Since Tristan lived d082e7a50a in the same e4225ab0a9 estate as her, 04d339809a I figured he ef2a8eb646 would know more 8079888139 about her current 646470b906 condition than anyone 4dd8161329 else.016fccca7ad5725e
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‘Honestly, I’ve been so curious about how she’s doing…’1d50bcc838674256
That day, seeing the hurt d12e183c79 in Lilliana’s eyes had left c40f44da2a me feeling as though my a1a4081a78 heart was being torn apart.c40fcac60c7e297b
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And now, hearing that she 51888c2499 still longed for me today, 776670d5fd I couldn’t just sit still.e7834c6739c27f50
So I planned 1111954af9 to ask Tristan 169d0c2846 if she was 8b0a178dcf doing well at d8a92daf07 the estate.e55f53bfeef2b43b
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‘But if I ask directly, it’ll be obvious that I’m worried about Lilliana.’e604df312ed95c2e
I was thinking ce55de8b41 of how to 77ca8fbb05 get the information 4e07a1d1a6 without revealing my 5de3d33bad true intentions and e1a1fb85e7 feelings when Tristan 15b73ea2d8 suddenly looked up, db7067a96a as if sensing ae684eb22a my gaze, and 27c55d8855 met my eyes.7908721e89c45afe
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“If it’s not just my imagination, your expression seems a bit dark, Vanessa. Is something troubling you?”0ac2211396d01a7b
Startled by his 082cd06d51 sharp intuition, I 0245f99d03 glanced at my e77e1606c7 reflection in the dcd688a548 window.90d131c3a6c9c56b
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How did he even 724e2dc615 notice when my face 142fc95141 only seemed cold and bf04a85d93 indifferent, without a hint 2a4f69f307 of concern on my 888fef50ec face?665a791f9ec16670
Even though I was startled f45d710ef2 that my thoughts had been 80d3b258b8 read, I responded naturally, without 3700cdcfde showing any signs.4ecaba8afed3dba1
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“Why would there be anything like that? What’s troubling me 99287dff1f now is Your 085583d2ef Grace’s title.”d1a31414323cae92
“Haha, it’s a relief that there isn’t a bigger problem. Vanessa’s concerns are 34fb8b2538 essentially mine as cb2c03bd68 well.”e7d472fa349921e8
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Really, if only he’d 1b2e2cc78f stop talking.2d96fe7568404655
Since I didn’t feel 942d69997a like responding, I ignored 3d9f92d0f0 him and fiddled with 074ec7b95a the documents again.6d488f9c0e7695bd
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‘Oh no. I missed my chance.’7ecaa8d2d061218e
Mentioning Lilliana’s name 6f95ad9d93 now would be ba67425999 like openly admitting b12a2df029 that my worries d5c1fc45b0 were about her.171055f9e055ae54
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‘I’m not about to reveal my weakness to Tristan….’737c1e8989215085
I was hesitating when suddenly—9259d6ff4bc98279
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“Lilliana. Lately, she hasn’t been looking f2deccb9cc well.”3f49475844eb6310
Without any preamble, Tristan brought 976257db38 her up. At that moment, I realized.40bb2d35d13bae4d
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‘…He already knows everything.’e7cb3da21036b714
He hadn’t asked about my 9844e824f9 concerns out of ignorance—he knew 0d16a463e7 my situation from the start.2816b3dd9472cc9d
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‘Of course, Tristan cares about her so much; it would be odd if he didn’t know.’1357d764953423c4
Though it was de953f29b1 clear he had 196928937f seen through me, fd4a099dd3 I feigned ignorance a7e273561a and kept acting 3641c981b5 calm.eb7cd73da84f6eba
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“Are you referring to Lady Locke?”8ca790cba71c5176
“Yes, she’s been skipping meals for days, as if heartbroken. Recently, she’s been 340b2fb1c1 going out more, 4d6064720b so I was 4a460b40ba hoping she’d feel 8fe182a64f better, but it’s eef39b56b7 not that simple. She’s still not eating and 66a6b7605a seems constantly down at home.”fd8109249fbad8f7
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“….”00368031437e3146
At least she’s been f4ddd6dbbb eating, though.f6c907e4c15800c8
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It hurt deep inside, making aa070268f4 it hard to respond.1aaddf04c48f542e
Quite some time cf4a613442 had passed since aa2be33379 that day. I had thought that by 55c41ac462 now, Lilliana would have forgotten 96a8a8e73f me to some extent, but 3571a66697 clearly, that was just my 561b5fb6c5 delusion.290fb22c0ad56855
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‘Was my judgment really wrong?’e59941081a861002
I thought keeping distance 8602a72357 was for her sake, e19e5c7189 but now I wasn’t 682a81dbd6 sure what was truly 03b3ec31f8 best for her.21ca3a36e60654a9
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I was lost in 10d3d7487f thought when—417bb72046d9012a
“I guess I’m more narrow-minded than I thought.”875d02ec93a8c5cc
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“Pardon?”94988f0c8d97d9a6
“I’m jealous of Lilliana. It seems like she means 8a814e11a1 something to you, whereas I 975c8a710b don’t.”661aa24f172ac54a
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“…So, you’re a man who even gets jealous of his own sister. Everyone will be 939c17e203 shocked to hear b21a254819 that the war 1d744668a8 hero, Duke Locke, 3f6e99c427 is this petty.”53edd7c26ba218a6
Though I meant to 3f0eee21a1 mock him, he didn’t 199f2def87 get offended. Instead, he nodded d18a6c37ba in agreement, as 8e5a47a9fb if I was 7d9458c128 right.9b52aecfb44de67f
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“You’re correct. Which is why….”6800b34e5378a44c
Tristan propped his chin on de9cfd14e9 one hand and looked at a23aa4df7a me at an angle.adbfa7c4aa024808
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“I hope your worries are resolved soon.”c493a6e8cea2bc9f
“….”4ca0aac619e245e0
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“So that there’ll be some room for me to step in.”41c6709f407e8cc5
A fine curve 19d82f4995 formed on his 67232a0797 lips, and his 47ecbaca34 blue eyes fixed 4626680ab4 on me, so 3fa224d476 persistent that they ba1a006cda felt almost obsessive.446c2be2c3187ad9
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***9629dd2d5a8b02a7
***a164c351227f31c9
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After some time, Tristan left. Alone in the reception 1b7664ad8a room, I was lost 12f175e2ef in thought for quite 023c763308 a while.552b38d0dd3f06d0
It was because of Lilliana.fcce9fe6935d8e26
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‘…Should I meet her after all?’a774f9adea0d5393
It wasn’t because of Jeremyon 7cd7db0439 or Tristan.12e4029655b091c5
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Hearing their stories 0007a5b9c8 had simply sparked ddbc8d88b3 one question.de365527a7f9fa29
‘Instead of pushing her away on my own, shouldn’t I find out what Lilliana really wants?’d6362b2f53e299a9
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Once that thought occurred, I f50899a6ef began to doubt whether my 428ca96cb8 actions had truly been the 0236678704 best.265c1fd0b69a591e
Even after emptying my teacup a1652991e0 a couple of times, I 1e2b288310 couldn’t easily reach a conclusion.462fbcd99fbf4a87
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Before I knew 65cbc371d6 it, night had 48e792ad78 fallen, and the 70428fa99d scorching sun had e69324e697 long disappeared.dc46a5c75ba5f55f
Just as I was 2e0196c631 about to head to 0da3e51d76 my bedroom to rest, c954ff6aae I heard a commotion 49d5959ca3 near the entrance, as ed5ae5d07b if someone had arrived.88c9889084eed98b
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There were only two owners e55a74cf27 of this mansion, so it 4f5d83d40c was obvious who it was.b72c2c44fc15d49c
Normally, I wouldn’t go out 2ba5583823 to greet him, but something 5709b64b1e impulsive made me turn and 4f50dc3d06 hurry to the entrance.10339e55a0820c6f
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Jeremyon, who noticed me fac1bb6d75 belatedly, looked surprised, as a1500d88a2 if he hadn’t expected 05754ef94f me to be there.088984db54cba5aa
“Mother? It’s late, why aren’t 7e3430e300 you resting?”d262a6fcb1485bbe
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I took a 114063e94d moment to steady a9f4f9c88f my breathing, which 9cda9da15b had grown a 8e2424020d bit ragged from ca651a297a rushing over.5112d7006bb54f9a
Why had I come to 0eaeb130f8 Jeremyon?3cebb6d82a4397b1
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My thoughts were cc58790a19 a mess, but 0c8f905199 one thing was 08495dfb6c clear.ad99e33ef7ca210e
There was only one 7e0472a98d conclusion I could reach 6ed52dee3f about Lilliana.80ec69ea55637c83
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And the reason fb62d7a1c8 I came to dd1f3d58da Jeremyon was surely 837e5207ca to deliver that cc638524d0 conclusion.dd17a5d473d08c53
“Jeremyon.”018d9ff8bc0443c1
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“Yes, Mother.”b853479392d4fcd4
“Tell Lady Locke to come to the mansion tomorrow.”2be4c38e88cb80b9
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Jeremyon’s black eyes widened, d4b4400253 as if he’d finally 95436fcfee heard the news he’d ff44e62757 been waiting for.910bd942102d261e
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •3c837d3986292658
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